LANSING – Michigan’s population growth has slowed significantly from the period of 2000-06, but ironically the population of young adults increased during that time period even as officials worry about the loss of young people to other states, according to a report issued Monday by the Land Policy Institute at Michigan State University.

In fact, the growth of younger adults in Michigan from 2000 to 2006 outpaced the average growth nationwide, the report said. While the expectations have been that young people are moving to locations like Chicago, Seattle, New York City and Colorado, the study said the fastest growth for adults that age has been in Utah, Georgia, Florida and Arizona.

But during the 1990-2000 time frame the number of younger adults fell in Michigan while the overall population increased by better than 12 percent, according to the report.

At the other end of the age scale, those 65 and older, Michigan saw a population growth from 1990-2006 of 23.6 percent. Nationally, the same age group grew by 5.35 percent during the same time.

Both age groups are considered important because of what they can spend on local economies, the report said. Younger people are generally involved in spending to develop newly forming households and older people often have more disposable income to spend on activities they enjoy. Plus, the report said younger residents represent new economic talent in a region, while older residents tend to be those that will invest the venture capital needed for new economic ventures.

The report is the first the Land Policy Institute has drafted to look into the questions of economic cost of population loss and what strategies the state can adopt to reduce population loss. This first report did not specifically look at what those strategies should be.

The Northeast and Midwest portions of the nation showed the greatest population losses, especially when the Midwest is defined as the prairie and plains states as well. From 1990 to 2000, Colorado saw a 34 percent increase in population while Arizona grew by 33.9 percent. North Dakota, on the other hand, dropped its population by 8.9 percent, the District of Columbia fell by 5.7 percent and Kansas and Nebraska both saw a .6 percent drop.

During the same time period, Michigan saw a population gain of 12 percent, above the national growth rate of 11 percent during that time.

From 2000 to 2006, however, during the state’s ongoing economic slide, population in the state has increased 1.8 percent, below the average 2.95 percent growth nationally, the report said.

In terms of younger adults, those 25-34, most regions of the country lost population from 1990-2006, the report said (some of that loss was due to demographic factors). Nationally, that population dropped by 10.5 percent, but in Michigan the drop was 13.2 percent.

From 2000-06, however, Michigan gained 7.6 percent more adults between 25 and 34 while the population nationally increased by 6.4 percent. The study suggests that individuals that age may look to find jobs they want in areas where they want to live.

This story was provided by Gongwer News Service. To subscribe, click on Gongwer.Com

a>>