Youth out-migration is a hot topic in many communities across Ontario.  At last week’s KIS Showcase the issue was raised during the Discovery Workshop testimonials.  Although most were concerned with this ongoing trend in Eastern Ontario, one participant questioned whether we should be worried about youth leaving our communities.  My answer: yes and no.

Yes – Youth out-migration is often the canary in the coal mine warning of larger issues including a weak economic base, lack of post-secondary education opportunities, and diminishing social and cultural amenities.  It leads to decline, which if significant, can create a negative community image.  Let’s face it – no community wants the decline label attached to them.  Additionally, youth are often associated with creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurialism.

The solutions to youth out-migration are not one-size-fits-all.  Each community is different and each young person making a decision to leave is different.  One option is to go into local high schools, colleges, and universities and ask graduating students what their intentions are after graduation.  Find out what makes people stay and what makes people leave.  Youth internships and co-op programs are also helpful in showing youth what job opportunities are available in their communities.  However, we need to be cautious about training but not retaining.  Bottom-line: get youth involved in their community.  This can be done through youth forums and establishing youth representatives for local council committees.

No - If your community can get youth to return, then youth out-migration might not be such a bad thing.  Several years ago, David Courtemanche, a former Mayor of Greater Sudbury, created an initiative called ‘Back at 30’.   The idea was to focus efforts on attracting youth who had left the City in their teens or 20s, and were looking for a place to settle down for their 30s.  The strategy was to promote the affordable housing, low commute times, natural amenities, and liveability of Sudbury as a great place to raise a family.  Recently, I wrote a paper for the Martin Prosperity Institute and key informants in that research described this ‘Back at 30’ trend.  One even stated that, from an economic standpoint, the 30s are the age when you want them: “They’re productive, they’re buying homes, they’re making money and they’re ready to go” (KI-08). 

Aside from the quality of place marketing strategy, one initiative that is underway at the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre is a portal website where IT workers who have left the Sault can register and receive updates about job opportunities.

What do you think about youth out-migration?  Should communities be concerned?  Should communities be focused on retention, attraction, or both?  What solutions have been tried?  What worked and what didn’t?

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Peter MacGibbon  - Programs for At-Risk-Youth?   |2009-11-25 07:29:41 Hi Heather, Very interesting article! Along with concerns about youth leaving, there also need to be ways to engage those who stay behind. How effective do you think co-ops and internships are at attracting those at-risk youth who may be lacking the confidence or vision to risk even those types of commitment. My guess is that those who are left behind comprise a significant number, and what they lack most is self-awareness and an understanding of their choices. In the context of the KIS project,have you come across any programs in the region that attempt to provide this type of opportunity to rural youth? Regards, Peter Reply

Renfrew County CFDC Community  - Renfrew County takes an active approach to curbing   |2009-11-25 07:31:53 Youth Out-Migration is certainly not a unique problem in our rural areas of Eastern Ontario, but it is one that many communities should at least keep on their radar, if they are not actively trying to curb the trend. Youth not only represent growth and vitality, but they are also the pillars that will uphold a community (both socially and economically) in the years to come. Renfrew County has certainly identified Youth Out-Migration as a growing trend in our area. Research shows a steady exodus of individuals, couples and young families between the ages of 18 and 34, while the 45 to 65 year old age group is moving into the area. These demographic changes affect our local economy in a number of ways and continually play into our strategic planning efforts. The Labour Market Group for Renfrew & Lanark Counties is working on several initiatives to help curb youth out-migration. One initiative is called “Working... Reply

Renfrew County CFDC Community  - Renfrew County Pt 2   |2009-11-25 07:31:47 ...Towards the Future” and includes workshops to inform youth about what regional workforce opportunities will be available upon graduation. The Labour Market Group is also developing a multi-media tool for parents and youth outlining future career opportunities that will be available regionally and what training and/or experience will be required to obtain and succeed in these positions. Areas of focus include entrepreneurship, apprenticeship, research sciences, health care and the skilled trades. The local school boards are trying to retain youth in the area through active and early promotion of the skilled trades while our local Enterprise centre (Enterprise Renfrew County) facilitates Youth Entrepreneurship initiatives in the secondary schools (i.e. Summer Company, Business Plan Challenge). The Renfrew County Community Futures Development Corporation is developing a Youth Entrepreneurship program to promote cr... Reply

Renfrew County CFDC Community  - Renfrew County Pt 3   |2009-11-25 07:32:57 ...creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship as rewarding opportunities in Renfrew County to elementary level students. The CFDC also supports several Youth Internship Programs that provide on-the-job experience to students or recent graduates and help them to find career opportunities locally that they otherwise would not have known existed. Further, the County of Renfrew Economic Development Department is working with the Labour Market Group on an initiative similar to the “Back at 30” idea. The ultimate goal is to entice one-time Ottawa Valley residents to return to the area to take advantage of job opportunities and other benefits of living in Renfrew County. With 300 to 500 highly skilled employees preparing to retire in Renfrew County within the next five years, it is crucial to inform our youth now of the opportunities that will exist for them in the near future. If we want them to stay around, or return to Reply

Renfrew County CFDC Community  - Renfrew County Pt. 4   |2009-11-25 07:34:11 ...the area, our youth need to know that they are needed and wanted here, and that here is a great place to be. Reply

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