ALBANY - Thousands of people left New York for other parts of the country last year, making it one of only three states that failed to grow since 2005, according to census estimates released Friday.
New York's estimated population on July 1 was 19.3 million, a drop of 9,538 from a year earlier, the U.S. Census Bureau reported. That drop is minuscule - 0.0005 percent - and based on estimates rather than an actual count. But census demographers say it shows New York's population remained virtually unchanged over the year.
New York and other Northeast states have suffered for years as residents - often young people just out of college - head to the Southwest and other high-growth areas.
The new estimates provide evidence that is still happening: 255,766 more people moved out of New York to other states than into the state between 2005 and 2006. Part of that exodus can be attributed to immigrants who came into the country through New York City and then moved on, often to areas with a lower cost of living.
But Robert Ward of the Business Council of New York State said it can be partly attributed to people heading to Texas and other states that are growing jobs at a faster rate.
“People are moving elsewhere in search of opportunities that they're not finding in New York,” Ward said.
The Census did not provide geographic breakdowns Friday. But population losses and jobs have been particular problems in upstate New York. Gov.-elect Eliot Spitzer has promised to place the upstate economy high on his agenda after he takes office Jan. 1.
The only other states to post population losses were Katrina-ravaged Louisiana, Michigan and Rhode Island. The District of Columbia also lost people. New York's neighbors all recorded growth under 1 percent.
The Census reported that the Northeast grew by 62,000 people.
E.J. McMahon, director of the fiscally conservative Empire Center for New York State Policy, said that other Northeast states did not lose people at the same rate as New York. He said New York and other states that lost people quickly tended to have high living costs (like downstate) and sluggish economies (like upstate).
McMahon said those problems can be addressed through policies to spur economic growth, like lower taxes and fewer mandates in New York.
“You can't say 'We can't because it's cold and old,' because there are other cold and old places that are not shrinking like New York state.”
New York and other Northeast states have suffered for years as residents - often young people just out of college - head to the Southwest and other high-growth areas.
The new estimates provide evidence that is still happening: 255,766 more people moved out of New York to other states than into the state between 2005 and 2006. Part of that exodus can be attributed to immigrants who came into the country through New York City and then moved on, often to areas with a lower cost of living.
But Robert Ward of the Business Council of New York State said it can be partly attributed to people heading to Texas and other states that are growing jobs at a faster rate.
“People are moving elsewhere in search of opportunities that they're not finding in New York,” Ward said.
The Census did not provide geographic breakdowns Friday. But population losses and jobs have been particular problems in upstate New York. Gov.-elect Eliot Spitzer has promised to place the upstate economy high on his agenda after he takes office Jan. 1.
The only other states to post population losses were Katrina-ravaged Louisiana, Michigan and Rhode Island. The District of Columbia also lost people. New York's neighbors all recorded growth under 1 percent.
The Census reported that the Northeast grew by 62,000 people.
E.J. McMahon, director of the fiscally conservative Empire Center for New York State Policy, said that other Northeast states did not lose people at the same rate as New York. He said New York and other states that lost people quickly tended to have high living costs (like downstate) and sluggish economies (like upstate).
McMahon said those problems can be addressed through policies to spur economic growth, like lower taxes and fewer mandates in New York.
“You can't say 'We can't because it's cold and old,' because there are other cold and old places that are not shrinking like New York state.”
