Posted on 01/27/2007 2:15:06 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
BOSTON — Young adults are earning their college degrees in Massachusetts and leaving the state, taking their eager work ethic, vitality and young families with them, according to a new study.
The entire Massachusetts population has dwindled over the past 14 years, but young adults between the ages of 25 and 34 are disappearing the fastest, according to a study out of the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire.
And they are not just leaving the Bay State. All six New England states rank in the top 10 in the country when it comes to losing members of Generation Y.
"It really affects the economic and social character of the region. Businesses that are growing fast, such as technology fields, need the energy of entry-level workers, and if there's a decline in this group, they may look to settle elsewhere," Ross Gittell, author of the study, said.
Most counties lose youth
Each of the 67 counties across New England has lost young adults since 1990 except Nantucket, Gittell found. Berkshire County lost 34 percent, Worcester County lost 20 percent, and Windham County in Vermont lost a whopping 41 percent.
The loss not only threatens the state politically in terms of congressional representation, but also has more subtle implications, said Sen. Steven Panagiotakos, D-Lowell.
"We have a very aging population, and we have one of the best benefits systems, but you need those young entrepreneurial working-class people to support that system. Losing people in the 25 to 34 age group hurts us today, but it hurts us even more ten years from now when those people would be getting into the prime of their business careers," Panagiotakos said.
Although several universities in the state attract young adults, Massachusetts is unable to keep them, leading to a "brain drain," of skilled workers. "Our greatest resource is our highly skilled work force. If that erodes, we will lose our competitive edge," he said.
Massachusetts could lose up to 40 percent of their young workers who have bachelor's degrees by 2020, according to a study by the Nellie Mae Foundation.
Once those young workers are gone, it gets harder to attract investors and expand businesses, and the area begins to be "branded as old and cold," said John Schneider, interim president at MassInc, a public policy think tank. Communities also are losing out on the innovations and tolerance that younger generations bring into a community, he added.
"Younger people bring new ideas and new ways of thinking about things and more diversity, and we lose that element. It's not just work force, but also to the contributions young people make to civic and cultural community," Schneider said.
State Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli, D-Lenox, hopes to work with Gov. Deval L. Patrick to entice young adults to stay here, explaining that a creative job market might keep them.
"We need to revitalize the economy in Massachusetts region by region. The market here in the Berkshires is very different from the market in Boston," Pignatelli said.
"High housing costs in Massachusetts have primarily contributed to increasing emigration to neighboring New Hampshire and Rhode Island in addition to the Southern and Western states. Other factors cited include taxes, weather, and traffic.
These high costs apply to desirable urban areas, but isn't there plenty of space to build in the rest of the state? When you drive up 91 to Vermont, you pass through nearly empty country after Springfield. Of course, it is not considered desirable right now, but it would have potential in a growing state.
This is the issue that will doom Romney for 2008.
Despite the haranguing all over FR, Mitt really did a pretty good job here as Governor. Until he signed that stupid bill, he actually might have had a chance.
Nice tagline! Thanks for the laugh!
And why not? it is cold, and Communist.
Kind of like the opening scenes of "The Hunt for Red October".
" It's Cold!"
"...And hard!"
Why do you think they're leaving, doodoo-head? The stupidity of politicians never ceases to amaze me.
Does this mean the baseball team will be renamed "Support Sox"?
I left Michigan thirty years ago for the same reason.
I currently live in Pittsburgh, PA, where I imagine things are similar to Massachusetts. We have great univerisites, glum people, cold winters, an aging population and nothing but gloom to offer people.
I don't know if there's anything politicians can do about areas like this. Living here is, well, glum and depressing.
Living down south, where the roads were built to handle the traffic, where the sun shines brightly and people are building new stuff all over the place, is so much more enjoyable and less depressing.
The Northeast is such a depressing place by comparison, I don't understand why there are people left there.
Why live in expensive gloom if you don't have to?
D
(I was born and bred in Massachusetts, lived in California for 20 years, in Pittsburgh for two and hope to move down south soon. Trust me, it's better in the less gloomy states. If California weren't so horribly expensive, i would still be there.)
All I got to say is I hope they don't bring their socialism with them. And we Alabamians don't like being told "Well that's how we did it up North."
If they come down for the conservative values, that's great, y'all are welcome and wanted. But please, no Kerry/Kennedy lovers!
Progressive politics has little regards for its consequences.
I know someone just like that here in Pittsburgh. Newfangled ideas and different cultural traditions were very threatening to him. I wouldn't be surprised if people like him were a lot of the reason for the region's decline, cold weather or no.
But when it comes to me you have nothing to worry about. I like being flexible.
If you want to know how they do it up north, look at Pittsburgh's rusty bridges. I'm always afraid my next time on one of those things will be my last.
Not something I want you guys, or anyone else, to emulate!
D
Problem is they vote Dem...
See Virginia's change as an example
I bailed out of the state in 1980 and never looked back. It's been 27 years and friends and family members (demcratic sheep) keep asking me when I'm going to come back to Massachusetts live.
I left NY in '72 to join the Army.Having lived in many places since,I have resided in Texas for the last 12 years.I miss the beautiful country in Upstate NY,and wish I could make a visit there.But the thought of giving up too many liberties to count to do so,I will just stay home.I try and keep up with current events there,and am amazed how people can afford to live there.Once the younger generation gets a taste at what is out there for them,there is no going back.
This is the main reason liberals hate mobility. The French socialist Grand Dame recently blasted some rock star for moving to Switzerland to avoid paying French taxes.
I visited relatives in MA last summer. I was amazed at the number of houses for sale. I got off a highway (forgot what town) to get some gas and literally, every other house on either side of the road was for sale.
I'm glad I got out of there with my parents 30 years ago.
We live in upstate NY and yes there are nice places...but there are lots nicer in other states and the economic climate here is horrible.
Young people are moving out by the hundreds each week.
The "federal rule" is in the Constitution. It simply says there will be "an enumeration" of the populace in each state every ten years. It makes no difference as to citizenship, incarceration, military assignment, etc. If you live in a state, you are counted toward that state's representation in the House of Representatives.
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