Join us for a panel discussion examining how health challenges can affect the workforce and local economy of rural communities. Drawing on research from the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, this session will highlight the relationship between health and employment in rural communities. Adverse health events can disrupt workforce participation, productivity, and local labor supply, while employment is a key social determinant of health, providing financial stability and access to benefits. This discussion will focus on how health and employment are connected in rural places, and why improving both is important for the economy and well-being of communities in West Virginia and beyond.