As the most comprehensive resource available for those involved in technology-based economic development, SSTI offers the services that are needed to help build tech-based economies. Learn more about membership...
Useful Stats: State Population Projections Through 2030
A child born in the U.S. today who obtains a master's degree directly after college and high school will have been in the job market for only 1-2 years in 2030. Many people in the tech-based economic development community want that girl or boy to study math, science or engineering. A more basic question, though, is where will that child live as a young adult? If you guessed in the West or South, you have a good chance of being right, based on the latest population projections from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Thirty percent of the nation's population will live in California, Texas, or Florida if the Bureau's guesses are close. Each of the three states are projected to gain nearly 13 million new residents during the next 25 years. The mix of residents by age is considerably different, as Florida's population aged 65 or over is expected to jump from 17.6 percent, already the nation's highest concentration, to 27.1 percent by 2030.
As the editors of the StatScan, the monthly e-newsletter of EconData.net, point out, the Census bases its projections on demographic trends over the past two decades, such as migration. Many other factors will influence actual state populations by 2030. For instance, carrying capacity and climate change may play larger roles in demographic shifts during the next 25 years than they have previously.
Nevertheless, the projections can provide an impetus for the design of public policy. Take the child born today, our future scientist or engineer, for example. Using the Census projections, SSTI has prepared a table showing the change in population specifically for 25-year-olds between 2005 and 2030. Thirty states and the District of Columbia will see actual declines in the number of 25-year-olds by 2030 if the projections hold. The nation as a whole, however, would see 9.14 percent more members of the age group.
SSTI's table is available at: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Tables/051605t.htm
The complete Census list of 2030 projection tables is available at: http://www.census.gov/population/www/projections/projectionsagesex.html