There is new data out that shows the pace of Michigan’s population loss is gaining speed again. According to the U.S. Census, Michigan lost 38,911 people to other states in 2015.
As part of an in-depth report at Bridge Magazine, the former head of Data Driven Detroit and current Mayor of Pleasant Ridge, Kurt Metzger, said:
“We are still seeing young people, especially people from elite universities, going elsewhere,” said demographic expert Kurt Metzger, director emeritus of Data Driven Detroit, a nonprofit research organization.
“They have so many more options. We are just not capturing those people.”
Although the numbers are better than the bottom in 2008 where the state lost 109,257, it’s the decrease is becoming more profound, losing 10,000 more people than moved out last year.
The losses keep adding up, as Michigan hasn’t gained population since the turn of the century while much of the country is growing. There is some solace in that other midwest and northern states are also losing, but it still is a huge problem for Michigan’s prospects long term in a lot of ways from businesses not having the talent they need to the loss of political clout to reduced revenue to pay for schools and services.
It got us thinking. We know that we have a lot of expatriate Detroiters and Michiganders that read Daily Detroit from the comments on our social media and from the statistics where we see out of state visitors; and that our audience is mostly under 40.
So we ask this in an informal survey – why did you leave Michigan? What would have kept you here, or would bring you back, if anything? Leave’em in in the comments, on our Facebook Page or on Twitter.