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Youth Migration
A Quick Peek
It isn’t just about young adults leaving the state. It’s about the economy. It’s about health insurance. It’s about opportunity.
Maine’s birthrates are lowering and there is a lack of young adults in rural areas. They are clustered around the cities. We need to minimize that trend and also how to maximize the intellectual assets and advanced skills of our older work force and retirees.
The Big Picture
Maine’s young adults are leaving the state. A White Paper Report on Maine's Changing Population begins, "Concern that Maine is losing its youngest citizens has become widespread. Indeed, Maine's population growth has lagged behind the nation since the early 1990s. There are fewer young adults today age 20-34, and the proportion of children and young adults as a percent of Maine's population is declining."
We are losing the youngest members of our work force and of our families. The implications are dire. Without young workers, insurance rates increase, new businesses don’t have the workforce to motivate them to come to the state. The economy suffers, and we suffer.
In 2002, Merrit T. Heminway wrote, “The implications of a declining youth population are far-reaching and worrisome. Three areas of particular concern are the impact on Maine’s labor force, on Maine’s public education system, and on Maine culture. Maine is already experiencing a labor shortage in entry-level positions typically filled by young workers. If current trends continue, this labor shortage will expand, and may deter new investment and stunt the prospects for economic growth.”
The Plan
The first step is recognizing the problem and its implications on the state’s economy, tourism industry, health-care systems, and schools.
Possibilities of dealing with the crisis include:
Learn More