The Step up for women program is helping to close the gender gap

In West Virginia, good-paying jobs are not plentiful. Add the gender wage gap that still exists for women overall, and the job market can look bleak for women in the Mountain State. The Step Up for Women Program from West Virginia’s Women Work organization aims to change that. Over this 12-week training course women learn the construction basics. And many SUFW program graduates continue their instruction through skilled construction ... Continue Reading »

Wage Stagnation in Nine Charts

West Virginia is going in the wrong direction like much of the country regarding wages and benefits. Our leaders need to value jobs that bring higher wages and good healthcare. Minimum wage jobs that don’t lift families out of poverty are not the solution. We need an economy that supports West Virginians who don’t just want to live in the Mountain State, but thrive. Learn more about wage ... Continue Reading »

Rural Mothers, Babies at Risk When Hospitals Cut Obstetric Services

Fewer good-paying jobs with benefits can contribute to rural hospital cutbacks and sometimes closures. Now more than ever West Virginians who want to start a family need good quality local healthcare options. Read more at USNews.com Continue Reading »

Raising the minimum wage to $15 by 2025 will restore bargaining power to workers and support the pandemic recovery

WAGES HAVE BEEN STAGNANT FOR A DECADE Congress has failed for more than a decade to raise the federal minimum wage. While there have been some wage increases at the state and local level, the current federal minimum wage stands at $7.25. WORKER WAGES REMAIN AT 1963 LEVELS WHEN ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION In 1963, back when John Kennedy was president, the applicable minimum wage varied by industry between $1.00 and $1.25 per hour, and there ... Continue Reading »

Mountaineers Are Always Free

…or are they?

We all love and appreciate the natural beauty of West Virginia – especially our majestic mountains. We call ourselves the Mountain State. We sing about our West Virginia Hills and our Mountain Mama. We proclaim that Mountaineers Are Always Free. On the flip side, our mountains often present us with challenges. Sometimes getting from here to there can be difficult – especially in bad weather. We may ... Continue Reading »

Apprenticeship Training

A Debt-Free Alternative to a Four-Year College

News reports are full of stories about young people burdened with crushing student loan debt. Celebrities are in trouble for their attempts to bribe college officials to admit their offspring to high-profile schools. Colleges are cutting programs to make ends meet, and many alumni are questioning the return on their hefty college investment. Amid all this bad news, many are overlooking ... Continue Reading »

Rural Hospitals Are in Crisis!

You Can Be Part of the Solution

As of January 1, 2020, the rural hospital closure crisis has claimed 120 facilities across the nation over the past 10 years, according to a recent study released by the Chartis Center for Rural Health. Unfortunately, rural hospital closures are becoming increasingly common with 19 closures in 2019 alone. There are currently 1,844 rural hospitals in the U.S., so the closure of 120 of them over 10 years means ... Continue Reading »

Community Colleges and The Workforce Sustain Each Other

One Size Does Not Fit All

Community Colleges Offer Educational Options

The traditional four-year college experience isn’t for everyone. Some students aren’t yet set on a course of study, while others are looking for a more affordable education. Some choose career paths that require only a two-year degree, while others may choose to step right into the working world. Still others may use their ... Continue Reading »

What is Apprenticeship?

A Clear, Cost-free Path to a Great Future.

Words are funny. Most often we understand their meaning, but we might be challenged to specifically define them. We’ve all heard the word “apprenticeship,” but other than what we’ve seen about so-called apprentices on reality TV, few folks have any idea of what an actual apprenticeship entails or the benefits it provides.

Defining Apprenticeships as an ‘Earn ... Continue Reading »

Are Your Tax Dollars Being Spent Responsibly?

There is a way to be sure

Check your news feed or pick up a newspaper and you’re sure to find a story about some huge federal or state project with price tags so large that you can hardly wrap your mind around the figures. Other than generalized descriptions of these projects, we find that the media offers us very little information about them. We never really ... Continue Reading »