More People Leaving Connecticut Than Moving In

(From The Associated Press)

Connecticut is once again losing residents to other states, ending a brief period of more robust population growth.

The state lost almost 17,000 more people than moved in between 2005 and 2006, according to the latest CENSUS estimate.

An influx of about 14,300 residents from Puerto Rico and foreign countries helped keep Connecticut from a net loss in population, as happened in the early 1990s.

THE CENSUS BUREAU estimates that Connecticut's population of 3.5 million grew by 4,108 in the year that ended last June 30th. State officials, who say the federal estimate understates the birthrate, pegged the increase at more than 9,000.

The two numbers represent a continuing decline from annual growth estimates in the mid-20,000 range from 2000 to 2003.

"The 2006 number was a confirmation of a significant trend," said economist RON VAN WINKLE of West Hartford. "We may not see significant growth in jobs or population in the state of Connecticut for the foreseeable future."

The Census estimate does not track the source or destination of people coming and going, but data compiled by the INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (IRS) indicate the largest share -- about 40 percent -- of those who leave Connecticut head for the South.

The next most common destination is elsewhere in the Northeast outside of New England.

Two age groups appear to be most severely affected by the declining population growth -- those who are in their late
20s and 30s and those who are in their late 60s and 70s. Both groups dropped in number during between 2000-2005.

Fairfield University economics professor EDWARD DEAK said
for workers in their prime earnings years, 35 to 55 or 60, Connecticut's high cost of living is offset by the availability of well-paying jobs, particularly in the financial and scientific areas.

"At the other two ends, as people retire they tend to leave the state, and as young people graduate from college they find more attractive opportunities for entry-level positions elsewhere," he said.

The decline in the younger group also is due in part to what Van Winkle called "a demographic wave" resulting from a drop in the birthrate nationwide through the 1970s.

[Time to move out with the rest of them.]