Net Migration Archives - Colorado-based Business and Economic Research

Colorado Population – 5.4 Million in 2015

February 18, 2015February 21, 2015 horvath Leave a comment

The Colorado population increases and decreases are a result of the natural rate of change (births minus deaths) and the change in net migration (people moving into the state minus people moving out of the state).

Over the past two decades the natural change (red bars) varied from a low of 29,168 in 1995 to a peak of 41,124 in 2007.

Changes resulting from net migration (blue bars) are closely tied to the strength of the economy. For example, there were five years, from 1986 to 1990, when net migration was negative. More people moved out of state than moved into the state to escape a regional recession. During the past two recessions, net migration declined, but did not turn negative because it was difficult for people to move. Net migration remained positive.

The Colorado population increased by about 86,000 in 2014 and will increase by about 89,000 in 2015.

Net migration will increase by 56,000 in 2015, the highest level of change since 2001. In 2015 the state’s population will increase by 1.7% to 5.4 million.

Colorado Population to Increase by 90,000 in 2014

February 17, 2014June 12, 2014 horvath Leave a comment

The Colorado population increases and decreases are a result of the natural rate of change (births minus deaths) and the change in net migration (people moving in the state minus people moving out of the state).

Over the past two decades the natural change gradually increased from 31,400 in 1991 to a peak of 40,230 in 2006.

Changes resulting from net migration are closely tied to the strength of the economy. For example, there were five years, from 1986 to 1990, when net migration was negative. More people moved out of state than moved into the state to escape a regional recession. During the past two recessions, net migration declined because it was difficult for people to move and net migration remained positive.

The Colorado population will increase by about 90,000 in 2014. The natural rate of change will rise to 37,000. Net migration will increase dramatically to 53,000, the highest level of change since 2001.

Changes in Colorado population — The Colorado population is changing at a faster rate because of increased net migration.

Why are People Moving Out of Boulder County?

March 16, 2012March 16, 2012 horvath Leave a comment

Boulder County is the hub of Colorado’s high-tech industry. It is the home of IBM, Ball Aerospace, and several federal labs and a host of other high-tech companies. At times the Boulder economy is like the city’s image – it sometimes moves to the beat of a different drummer. For instance, the unemployment in the county is typically lower than that of the state, average annual wages are much higher than the state average, and the county economy often lags the state when entering recessions.

As well, the county population increased by 0.7% during the 2000s, a little over half the rate of growth for the state. That is not particularly surprising given the high prices of housing in the City of Boulder and the image that it has developed as a “no growth” city (Boulder is the dominant city in the county). Between 2000 and 2010, the county population increased about 19,232 people. About 84% of that growth occurred in 4 years, 2001 and 2006-2008.

Looking more closely, it can be seen that during the first half of the past decade, the natural rate of increase for the county was between 2,000 and 2,400 people a year (The natural rate of increase is births minus deaths). The rate tapered off during the second half of the decade and ranged between 1,600 and 1,900. All together the natural rate changed by 20,296 people.

The shocker is that there was negative net migration during this period (Net migration is the difference between the number of people who move in and the number who move out). In other words, the hospitals and funeral homes were busy, but apparently the moving vans were busier.

So what does this mean for the county? At first glance, the implications could be significant – it could affect schools, tax receipts, and services provided. Stay tuned as the story unfolds in the months ahead.