John Murphy Reports

The latest population statistics were just published from the US Census Bureau and they don’t paint a great picture for Minnesota’s growth.  Yes, some 38,000 more people live in the state now than they did a year ago, but we are slipping behind the growth rates of many other states across the country.

At 5,220,393 people, Minnesota ranks 21 in overall state population but with growth of .7% over the past year, we rank 29 in overall growth.

Tom Gillaspy, State of Minnesota Demographer, published this press release yesterday about the results.  He further stated:

The growth in Minnesota is due largely to an increase in the number of births. Between July 2007 and July 2008, Minnesota recorded 73,657 births and 37,959 deaths for a natural increase of 35,698. Another factor in Minnesota’s growth has been migration from abroad. During the past year,

Minnesota had a net loss of 7,136 residents to other states, which was offset by international migration to Minnesota of 9,403.

I think it would be very interesting to see the demographics on those who left versus those who arrived.  My guess would be we lost some high paid citizens and gained more dependents on the government.
The natural tendency for people is to move to the south and the west, particularly as they get older.  Given the lovely weather we have here in Minnesota this winter, it’s not hard to see why they would do that.

Minnesota’s population is aging very rapidly and I’m afraid we are in for a radical change in our society and culture here if we don’t figure out how to dramatically attract younger workers and encourage young families to have children.

The culture here is geared towards heavy government regulation, is anti-business, and is mostly focused on just taking care of those who are here today.  It seems to me there is little emphasis on growth in the future.

Minnesota has the opportunity to be the absolute standout state in the Midwest.  There are great people here.  Smart people…ambitious people and we need to create a culture that blows away every other state in the Midwest.  We should have businesses clamoring to relocate here but we don’t.   Yes, there remain many wonderful things about the Twin Cities…the arts, entertainment, sports, parks, lakes, successful businesses, decent housing prices and housing stock, the environment, clean air, etc., but we cannot rest on this.  The growth of government and regulations is going to choke the life out of this state.

People and businesses have to have a reason to move to this state.  It’s not going to be because of the weather.  The incentives must be significant to overcome to lousy weather here.  We can start by establishing a business friendly environment.

If we don’t the state will continue to suffer with slow growth, higher unemployment and the productive highest paying citizens leaving for warmer climes that are more business and tax friendly.

It’s unclear if Minnesota will lose a Congressional seat based upon this latest data.  WCCO’s Don Shelby reported on December 1, 2008 that Minnesota may well lose a Congressional seat.  According to the Iowa Independent, the states that are losing a Congressional seat are:

• Iowa
• New York
• Louisiana
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• New Jersey
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania

If we want to make this list 10 years from now, we just have to keep doing what we’re doing and Minnesota will continue to slip behind the other states in the U.S.