The Big Picture
Often the changes in our population are painted with a broad brush – our aging pollution will strain our tax base; our college graduates are fleeing the state, new immigrants need social services.
Here's a look at these and other changes, including increased life expectancy, an aging population, retirement of the baby boomers, Brain Drain of college students, generational diversity and changes in our ethnic make-up.
We are Living Longer
Advances in health care now enable us to live longer, more productive lives. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the proportion of the U.S. population aged 65 and older will double to about 71 million older adults by the year 2030. Currently, people over 65 years old comprise 10% of Chittenden County's population.
Our Workforce is Aging, Baby Boomers are Retiring - and Volunteering
To add to the numbers of older Americans, the Baby Boom generation - those born between 1946 and 1964 - are beginning to reach retirement age. Upon retirement, many remain active as volunteers. The United Way of Chittenden County reports that the age of Retired Senior Volunteer Program participants is lower than ever before. As boomers move toward retirement, the labor force will continue to age. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual growth rate of the 55-and-older group is projected to be four times the rate of growth of the overall labor force.
College Graduates Seek Opportunity In and Out of State
The so-called Brain Drain refers to the exodus of college graduates from the state. Are they leaving to find jobs? Adventure? Are they returning later in life? To answer these and other questions, the state commissioned a 2006 report, Growing Vermont’s Next Generation Workforce. It confirmed some assumptions and raised other questions. Weekly newspaper, Seven Days, feature story "She's Leaving Home. Or Maybe Not." explored these issues.
Many of Us Face Financial Security Challenges
Even before the current recession, people near or below the federal poverty level have faced daunting challenges. Now, many of us know friends or family who have lost their jobs or homes. Children are less likely to thrive at home and in school when their families lack the financial resources for healthy food, quality health care and safe homes. Seniors on fixed incomes are also at risk, especially when winter fuel bills often force them to make hard choices between heat, prescriptions and food. See our Changing Population Indicators for more poverty information.
We are Becoming More Ethnically and Culturally Diverse
As one of the most diverse regions of the state, Chittenden County is home to people from countries around the world, including Tibet, Vietnam, Somalia, Sudan, Bhutan and the Congo. In the Burlington schools, elementary students speak more than 28 languages. These new Americans have sought safety and economic opportunity, only to find themselves sidelined by the recession. While free from repression, many live in poverty.
But diversity alone does not make our community whole. In addition to welcoming new Americans to our community, we have opportunities to integrate people from other cultures into our workforce, health care systems and schools.
