CHARLESTON-- No matter what the signs say at West Virginia's border, the state will remain closed for business until its work force is more educated, a panel of business experts said Friday.

To make the state more attractive to business, the panelists said, more legislative policies and state support are needed to make West Virginia more like the current welcome signs of "Open for Business" suggest.

The panel at The Associated Press Legislative Lookahead forum in Charleston included Joab Corey, co-author of "Unleashing Capitalism: Why Prosperity Stops at the West Virginia Border and How to Fix It"; Paul Uselding, dean of Marshall University's Lewis College of Business; and State Sen. Brooks McCabe, D-Kanawha.

The state's 2008 General Assembly kicks off Wednesday, and Gov. Joe Manchin's State of the State address is scheduled for that night.

Manchin said Friday he will push in the legislative session to devise ways to encourage more residents to take part in technical education. With an educated work force in place, Manchin said, more companies and technology-based industries would be interested in setting up shop in West Virginia.

The governor said the state also needs to find ways to keep educated West Virginians in the state.

"I'm running out of skilled workers to attract the jobs that are needed for the 21st Century," Manchin said. "We have to reverse the thinking that you have to leave the state to find a job."

The panelists said time is needed for the state to evolve from a labor-based work force to a technology-based work force.

Corey and Uselding cited several polls and studies that found West Virginia at or near the bottom of the states for fostering a positive business atmosphere. Forbes Magazine ranked West Virginia in 49th place, just above Louisiana, in a ranking of the best states for business in 2006.

"We have to make West Virginia a more business-friendly environment," Uselding said. "What this state needs is a state of urgency and not a state of panic."

Among other suggestions from the panelists were diversifying the type of industries in the future and capitalizing on the businesses that are already in the state.

Manchin said the state has been working for the past few years to diversify its economy. While the state is globally competitive with its coal, Manchin said he plans to emphasize the development and research of clean coal technology. The new technology, he said, also will inspire technical industries to locate here.

The panelists said moving quickly to implement new policies -- such as those to encourage a more skilled work force -- is important in competing for jobs.

Uselding also said the state should no longer just look at increasing its nationwide rankings in business surveys, but also concentrate on ways to compete with surrounding states. That could do as much or more to help West Virginia's business environment, he said.

File photo/The Herald-Dispatch

A panel at The Associated Press Legislative Lookahead forum in Charleston suggested that more legislative policies and state support are needed to attract businesses.