West Michigan retaining young, educated residents despite statewide trend

By CAITLIN McARTHUR
Capital News Service
LANSING –While many of Michigan’s counties are experiencing an exodus of the young and educated, the Greater Grand Rapids region is bucking the trend. According to 2013 census data, Michigan lost 3.5 per cent of its population of people aged 22 to 34 with bachelor’s degrees to other states. This follows net migration losses of the young and educated of 2.2 percent in 2012 and 2 percent in 2011. In 2010 the state lost 4.4 percent of this group to outmigration. While much of the data shows the state continuing to follow this trend, a recent survey of the Greater Grand Rapids area tells a different story.