The Wisconsin Counties Association’s nonpartisan research arm, Forward Analytics, recently released a study that raises concerns about the state’s migration patterns. The report claims that Wisconsin doesn’t have enough young people to take over jobs from baby boomers set to retire in the coming 10 to 15 years, Wisconsin Public Radio reported.
“We’ve got to figure out how to turn that around and we’ve got to do it fairly quickly because baby boomers are nearing retirement,” said Dale Knapp, Forward Analytics’ research director.
The state’s migration of children dropped below 10,000 from 2010 to 2015. Before 2010, Wisconsin added 40,000 children from outside the state over a five-year period.
Wisconsin’s birthrate has also declined to its lowest in four decades.
Former Gov. Scott Walker launched a marketing campaign last year to try to lure millennials, age 21 to 35, to the state. Wisconsin has struggled to retain younger millennials, who often prefer big cities and more entertainment options.
Knapp recommends that Wisconsin instead targets families that might want to settle in the state. He says Wisconsin can offer quality schools, safe neighborhoods and recreation.
Wisconsin was successfully able to lure people in their 30s to 50s around 1990 to make up for the exodus of younger residents, many of whom were college graduates leaving the state, he said.
Knapp said the issue is that states across the country are facing an aging population and declining birthrate.
“So we have to figure out what makes us different, what makes us more attractive than Iowa, Illinois, Indiana or Minnesota. So we can attract those workers,” Knapp said. “Our long-term economy really depends on it.”
As I am wont to say when people ask me why I moved to Wisconsin almost 20 years ago, people only move for one of two reasons… love or money. Young people are generally moving out of Wisconsin for money… higher paying jobs. And many retirees and people in the middle of their careers move out of the state for the same reason, but are more likely to factor in a lower cost of living (lower taxes, housing prices, etc.). That’s why we see the net migration to states like Arizona, Florida, etc. Some people stay in Wisconsin, or leave and come back, for love. Love of family, love of spouse, etc.
The State of Wisconsin can’t do anything about love, but they can focus on money. How can the state make Wisconsin a more attractive place for businesses with higher paying jobs to locate in Wisconsin? How can the state make Wisconsin lower the cost of living so that people don’t need a job that pays as much to have the same standard of living in other states? What are states that enjoy an interstate net inflow of people doing differently?
I’ll give you a clue… all of the marketing in the world won’t compensate for higher taxes, more regulation, and crappy winters, but the state government can only do something about the first two.
If Governor Doom ever tires of bullying Foxconn maybe he’ll devote a little effort towards repopulating Wisconsin. It might be decidedly more difficult now that we’re no longer open for business and actively chasing away opportunity, but here’s a subject that ought to generate some reasonable bipartisan interest.
I used to live in Wisconsin but now live in Arizona. Yes, the weather is nicer, except for the 2 foot snowstorm earlier this year.
But aside from that, property taxes are very low. A $250,000 house in our county will have about $800 in property taxes. Food is not taxed and I am pretty sure the cost of living is quite lower. We also have a $11 statewide minimum wage, which has hurt some people but also helped others.
We don’t have a minimum mark up law. We rarely have school referendums and they are usually not approved if there is one.
And there are a lot more freedoms, from guns, to driving laws, to minimal law enforcement. We don’t have a lot of crime because almost everyone has a firearm.
Would I like to move back to Wisconsin, yes, but I wouldn’t be able to afford to retire there.
No one should be surprised. For the previous 8 years the powers that were in WI did everything they could do to make us look like an unattractive place to live; openly demonize teachers, public sector workers, public and private sector union members; attack public education and the environment; turn a blind eye to upgrading or even maintaining our infrastructure; keep wages as low as possible, then wonder why no one can attract employees to replace an aging boomer work force. The irony is dripping here, folks.
My, my le roi. So, it’s all Scott Walker’s fault? You are most seriously brainwashed.
Nope, walker had lots of help; fitz x2, vos, hendricks, wmc, toxic tom tiffany, and the usual cast of suspects. Folks got tired of it and walker took the fall. I don’t think I’m the one that is brainwashed..
>For the previous 8 years the powers that were in WI did everything they could do to make us look like an unattractive place to live; openly demonize teachers, public sector workers, public and private sector union members; attack public education and the environment; turn a blind eye to upgrading or even maintaining our infrastructure; keep wages as low as possible, then wonder why no one can attract employees to replace an aging boomer work force.
Perhaps you could provide that factual information.
Act 10, Right To Work, changes to SS 29, 30, NR115, cuts to local school aid, cuts to CHIP and LRIP for starters.
Ironic, that you’re calling out others for conjecture and opinion… and you respond with that drivel.
Leroy, you never change.
No public sector employee took a cut in pay, and damn few took a cut in benefits, LeeeeeeeeeeeeeRoy.
The reductions to local schools were repaid AND MORE by the end of Walker’s term.
You oppose the right of labor to work where they want, LeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeRoy, but most thinking adults don’t oppose that at all.
And “cuts” to welfare programs are not disincentives for upwardly mobile individuals–which is what Wisconsin should attract.
What is discouraging is retired public employees sucking down disproportionately huge guaranteed pensions funded by taxpayers. But you didn’t mention that, LeeeeeeeeeeeeeRoy.
“No public sector employee took a cut in pay, and damn few took a cut in benefits, LeeeeeeeeeeeeeRoy”.
Wrong on both counts, dud. And the rest of your gibberish is just that.. gibberish.
j: You asked for some facts, look up what happened in those areas. Or is that too much effort for you to expend? Maybe dud can help you out.
Walker took a lot of Wisconsin out of the red and into the black. Somebody had to do it and he did. My wife was a teacher during that time. All these crusty old UW professors were crying the blues about losing their jobs. They reluctantly retired from their tenured positions of doing as little as possible to their big fat pensions. Thanks to Walker’s push, a lot of young new teachers throughout the state are gainfully employed versus the guaranteed opposite. Of course, they were all indoctrinated and still believe Walker is evil.
The only measurable effect to benefits was that the old guard had to kick in a percentage towards their own pensions, which they are getting back in their retirement. Call it forced savings. Of course, that was unfair, because that small percentage was not given to them anymore by the taxpayers.
>Or is that too much effort for you to expend?
If it’s too much effort for you, then we’re done, and you’re just talking out of your ass again.
j:
If you don’t want to do the research it is fine with me. I provided you areas that you could easily check out for more information. Carry on.
OK. Then you should provide the facts, LeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeRoy.
I note that whenever the facts don’t go your way, you either run away or say they are ‘gibberish.’ Frankly, LeeeeeeeeeeeeeRoy, the Gibberish Spouter title is yours in a runaway.
No wonder you worked for the State.
Le Roi, you gave some examples but how you failed to explain how it affects the post.
Hey Leroy, it looks like there’s a few of us that are continuously underwhelmed when you type something. Sounds like a You problem.
It was a lot easier for him when he could say his stupids and enforce his stupids at the point of a gun. Now he’s just another Up Nort’ old gasbag.