At Risk: West Virginia鈥檚 youth deserve better
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Given recent arguments about school funding, TANF funding, foster care -- far too many topics for a state where so many people squawk about their love of children and families just ahead of Election Day -- it's important to look at what the data says.
According to WalletHub's "States with the Most At-Risk Youth in 2026," West Virginia is fifth. As in, only four states are worse. (Predictably, those four are Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.)
West Virginia ranks 9th for risks involving education and employment; and 5th for risks involving health. Drilling down, the state is 5th for the percentage of people aged 18-24 who do not have a degree beyond high school and are neither pursuing further education nor employed; 2nd for percentage of overweight and obese youth; and 3rd for youth poverty rate.
"A high share of youth who are not working, not getting education and generally stagnating in life can spell trouble for the future," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. "States that are most impacted by this problem, as well as related issues like high youth poverty rates, widespread drug use and low test scores, need a wake-up call to invest more into improving conditions for young residents. Otherwise, the future economic and social progress of the state is in danger."
Here in West Virginia, we know those who are among the best and brightest leave because they believe they must escape -- again, unless they have reason to think they will be able to support themselves financially to a degree that breaks the cycle.
New Jersey, by the way, ranks 51st, meaning the Garden State has the fewest at-risk youth. Bruce Springsteen may need to rewrite some lyrics; but lawmakers in West Virginia would do well to take a look at what is working there and in states such as Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Utah.
This state has so much to offer. There is so much wild, wonderful and welcoming about it -- for some people. Knowing what far too many of them have experienced growing up here, West Virginia's vulnerable kids shouldn't have to plan to leave, get a remote job and earn $100,000 a year before they can let country roads bring them home.