CWU to host annual Economic Outlook Conference on May 5

Each spring, the Central Washington University Department of Economics and Business Analytics and the College of Business collaborate to bring together regional leaders, industry professionals, economists, students, and community members to assess the current economic landscape in Central Washington.

This year’s Economic Outlook Conference will be held May 5 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Sue Lombard Hall at CWU. Economics and Business Analytics Department Chair Tennecia Dacass knows that this year’s focus on the myriad ways in which tech is reshaping the local workforce is an important one to grapple with for everyone in attendance.

“Topics like AI and workforce change are evolving quickly, and no single group has all the answers,” she said. “Bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, faculty, and students allows us to connect data with lived experience and regional context, and ensures that conversations about economic change are accessible to the broader community.”

The conference provides an excellent opportunity for students to start engaging with the fields they will enter following graduation while, at the same time, developing their sense of agency within those spaces.

“Students leave with a clearer sense of how economic concepts show up in practice, as well as a better understanding of potential career paths,” Dacass said. “They begin to see themselves as contributors to these conversations, not just observers.”

One of the highlights of the conference each year is a presentation of the Student Price Index (SPI), an ongoing collaboration between the Economics Association and the Department of Economics and Business Analytics. The project, overseen by Assistant Professor of Economics Yurim Lee, provides a data-driven overview of the effects of inflation on the cost of student life in our region.

Lee’s team of 13 students have put together this year’s SPI update with the help of campus and community partners like CWU Dining Services.

“They've been sharing dining data with the SPI team, and our students are now analyzing student spending on on-campus food and beverages,” Lee said. “It's a great example of the project expanding in scope while staying grounded in questions that are directly relevant to student life.”

Conference attendees will also participate in interactive lunch roundtables designed to spark connection and conversation, rounding out a day of community building and intentional dialogue. The whole program is designed to provide something for every attendee, whether they’re students, faculty, or members of the community.

“The conference provides timely insights into regional economic trends, such as state budget developments, labor market conditions in Kittitas County, and how emerging technologies like AI are shaping business operations,” Dacass said. “Faculty gain insight into the challenges local businesses are currently facing, which helps inform teaching and research, while students benefit from networking opportunities and exposure to real-world data.”

Sharing research and leaving space for the conversations that follow are key to the mission of the Economic Outlook Conference, and Dacass expects that attendees will walk away with a clearer picture of where things stand, and where we’re headed.

“It’s not just about sharing information, it’s about building relationships and creating a space where different perspectives can shape how we think about the future of work in our region,” she said. “We are always looking to include more voices from the community, especially local leaders who can share what’s working and where challenges remain.”