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1/8/2009 10:52:00 AM
Moving trends: Leaving Mich. heading east, west
The Associated Press
ST. LOUIS - Michigan saw the nation's most outbound migration in 2008, with 67.1 percent of interstate moves heading out, according to a migration study released Wednesday.
It marked the third straight year that Michigan, hard hit by the economy and layoffs in the auto industry, has seen the highest percentage of outbound migration.
Americans continue to head west - and to the Mid-Atlantic states - while many are leaving the Great Lakes region behind.
St. Louis-based United Van Lines, the nation's largest mover of household goods, has been tracking moves since 1977. Company vice president Carl Walter said the study in the past has accurately reflected trends in migration. He said real estate firms, financial institutions and others use United's data for planning and analysis.
The 2008 study looked at 198,962 interstate household moves in the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia.
In fact, the District of Columbia tops the list for inbound migration, with 62.1 percent of interstate moves going in. Nevada was second (59.2 percent), followed by North Carolina (58.2 percent), Alabama (58.1 percent) and Wyoming (57.8 percent).
Most of the states with high percentages of inbound moves were in the Mid-Atlantic (South Carolina and Delaware also ranked high) or the West (South Dakota, Oregon and Colorado also ranked high).
North Dakota (58.9 percent), New Jersey (58.7 percent), Pennsylvania (58 percent) and Rhode Island (57.8 percent) also were in the top five in the percentage of outbound movers. Several other states with high rates of outbound moves were in the Great Lakes region, including Illinois, Indiana, New York, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Most states in the South saw more inbound than outbound moves in 2008. Only two states in the Northeast - Vermont and Massachusetts - had more inbound than outbound migration.
Missouri reversed a 13-year trend of outbound moves, with 51.4 percent of 2008 moves coming into the Show-Me State. In Illinois, 57.2 percent of moves were outbound, the sixth-highest total. Kansas saw 50.4 percent of interstate moves inbound.
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Posted: Saturday, January 10, 2009
Article comment by:
Andy
This is not all that surprising and I think I would actually expect the difference to be greater than UVL's findings because these do not take into account those who move themselves. I would guess that UVL's services are probably used by those with greater financial resources because they are accepting higher skilled jobs that often cover some or all moving expenses. As for those such as the unemployed or underemployed who leave the state for better work, limited financial resources and the high costs associated with moving mean that they must rely on their own efforts. Given the economic situation of Michigan, the latter group is probably much greater in number, meaning that the percentage of migrations leaving the state is probably greater than 67%- a very sad trend for a great state like Michigan.
I myself am a member of this latter group. After graduating from GHS, receiving my Bachelor's from GVS in 2006, and searching for a job for nearly a year, I packed up a rental car and relocated to Boston, MA where I now reside.
Posted: Thursday, January 08, 2009
Article comment by:
addison
Michigan is an interesting state. Destroyed by Democrats and powerful unions and they vote for...Democrats who further empower unions. Perverse.
Posted: Thursday, January 08, 2009
Article comment by:
Mrs D
Why does this surprise anyone? Pretty soon Michigan will be full of people who don't make enough to pay any taxes but will be getting state assistance and the state will have to cut back spending or raise taxes. Guess which one they'll choose. We're in for a tough few years here.
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