One in five households in Michigan's four largest counties -- Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and Kent -- is a "young professional" household, according to new research by Lou Glazer and his group, Michigan Future, Inc.

But Michigan is falling behind more prosperous Midwest regions like Minneapolis and Chicago in attracting, retaining, and concentrating young professional "knowledge workers" who demographers say are key to regional prosperity in coming years.

"We need to move to the top of our agenda at both the state and regional level creating places where talent -- particularly mobile young talent -- wants to live," Glazer writes in his new report, "Young Talent In the Great Lakes, How Michigan is Faring." It is an essential ingredient in better positioning Michigan for success in an increasingly knowledge-driven economy.

One of Michigan's ace demographers, Kurt Metzger, also looks at new Census numbers and finds increasing diversity but troubling age trends, as he recently wrote to the Center...

County populations across the State are becoming more diverse. African Americans are moving out of older cities into surrounding counties. Immigration is driving growth in both the Asian and Latino communities. The White, non-Hispanic population, is showing a decrease in its share of county populations, but also contains a great deal of diversity - Arab, Chaldean, and numerous other ethnic groups.

Populations are aging, due to slow growth in the under 18 population (due to birth number declines since 1990), and significant growth in the 45-64 year (Boomer) segment. We need stronger growth in both the 18-24 and 25-34 groupings.

A number of counties are nearing a median age of 50 (Alcona County is already there). This is a sign of an aging population that sends out a signal to businesses and developers that retirement-related programs are the only development opportunity. When deaths outnumber births the only way to grow is to spur in migration. If business indeed looks for youth and talent, what can these counties do?

Alcona County - Annual deaths outnumber births by 101 (2006 data). Net migration between 2006-07 was 82 persons.

Alpena County - Annual deaths outnumber births by 66 (2006 data). Net migration between 2006-07 was -45 persons.

Montmorency County - Annual deaths outnumber births by 76 (2006 data). Net migration between 2006-07 was 36 persons.
Ontonagon County - Annual deaths outnumber births by 48 (2006 data). Net migration between 2006-07 was -70 persons.

These rates are not sustainable and will lead to gradually decreasing, aging populations in a number of counties. This will of course greatly affect the need for increasing government services while these counties and communities deal with fewer resources from taxes, etc.