Newspapers across the state lost no time last week in reportingabout new Census data that targets Indiana as one of the worststates in the country at keeping well-educated 25- to 39-year-oldsfrom moving out of state.
The report, which examined data from 1995-2000, showed that17,739 single, college-educated people moved into Indiana while31,713 moved out. Those kind of numbers put Indiana near the bottom(44th) of a list that included rankings for all 50 states and theDistrict of Columbia.
So what's the reason behind this so-called "brain drain?" Onetheory is based on economic reasoning -- people are leaving forbetter paying jobs in other states. Another is Indiana'sever-changing weather, with more and more of these "outmigrants"opting for homes (and jobs) in sunny areas like Sarasota and PalmSprings. Then there is the argument that the state does little toentice recent college grads and up-and-comers to stick around,making it easy for this age group to pack up and leave when theyplease.
Whatever the case may be, this kind of exodus is a problem fornot only Indiana, but states across the country. From Maine toMontana, young people are leaving their homes behind to head togrowing metropolitan areas where they feel like they are more apart of the scene.
Places like San Franciso, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Washington,D.C. (which ranked in the top four of the Census data respectively)are gaining reputations as being hot spots for these youngprofessionals, cities where they can advance their careers inattractive urban settings with others who have goals similar totheir own.
For the states who are seeing their best and brightest jump shipfor more popular locales, more action must be taken by lawmakersand business leaders to ensure that this kind of massive departureslows to a trickle.
In Maine, two of the state's top legislative leaders recentlystepped up to reverse their youth exodus by appointing a 13-membertask force to come up with ways to keep seniors from leaving thestate when they graduate. Lawmakers there have also looked intoteaming up with the state's universities to develop ideas, likecollege loan forgiveness for graduates, if they remain instate.
In Louisville, Kentucky, where the "brain drain" is starting toebb, the city's chamber of commerce has made youth retainment apriority. Among other things, chamber leaders have made trips toplaces like Atlanta and Chicago to coax former young Louisvilleresidents back. This is in addition to the chamber sending out20,000 or so email postcards every other month to youngprofessionals, filling them in on what's going on in the city.
This is the kind of action that must be more of a priority forpoliticians and businesses here in Indiana, and we're not justtalking about in the booming metropolis of Indianapolis (whichreportedly drew more people in (13,138) in the last eight yearsthan out (8,948)).
Unless Indiana starts playing up its assets -- which include oneof the lowest costs of living in the country and an increase in thehiring of new college grads -- the Hoosier "brain drain" will soonbecome a major headache for everyone who lives in this state.
Write to Gail at glkoch@bsu.edu
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