Huntington Bank Hosted Morgantown Economic Outlook
The event addressed West Virginia economic growth, unemployment, and strategies to retain young professionals.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Employment
Live Poll
Do you believe your local economy provides enough opportunity to retain young residents?
Huntington Bank held an economic outlook presentation at the Marriott Waterfront Place in Morgantown. Executives analyzed national and state-level trends to provide insight into future growth.
Why it matters
The discussion highlighted the need for new economic opportunities in West Virginia to address an aging population and keep college graduates in the state.
West Virginia reported a 4% unemployment rate, slightly lower than the national average of 4.1%. Meanwhile, U.S. gross domestic product growth is currently measured at 1.5%.
The players
Huntington Bank
Huntington Bank is a regional banking institution that provides wealth management and financial services across multiple states.
Marc Dizard
Marc Dizard serves as the Chief Investment Officer for Huntington Wealth Management.
Chad Prather
Chad Prather is a Regional President at Huntington Bank.
The details
Huntington Wealth Management Chief Investment Officer Marc Dizard examined inflation trends and job creation, while Regional President Chad Prather emphasized regional development. The bank projected that a recession is not expected to occur in 2026.
Timeline
Huntington Bank held its economic outlook event on September 25, 2026.
Macro View
The bank's forecast for 2026 marks a departure from typical economic uncertainty by explicitly projecting that a recession is not expected next year. This outlook follows a period of modest national growth, mirroring patterns of historical resilience in similar economic cycles.
The discussion underscores the importance of job market stability for residents planning their long-term careers in the area. With unemployment rates holding steady, the focus shifts to how local economic development impacts housing affordability and career prospects for graduates.
The takeaway
West Virginia faces a critical need to foster industry growth to attract and maintain a younger workforce. Residents should monitor local development initiatives as the state navigates shifting demographic and economic challenges.
Further reading
For more on the regional labor market, visit Employment.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WBOY.
Live Poll
Do you believe your local economy provides enough opportunity to retain young residents?
