Moving Past Net Migration: Demographic Characteristics of Utah's Recent Migrants - Kem C ...

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Emily Harris
Demographer, Kem C. Gardner
              Policy Institute
                                 Moving Past Net Migration:
                                 Demographic Characteristics
                                 of Utah’s Recent Migrants
                                 Migration is becoming a more reliable component of
                                 Utah’s population growth. Migrants are demographically
                                 different from the rest of Utah, contributing to the
                                 changing demographics of the state.

                                 June 2021

                                                          411 East South Temple Street
                                                          Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
                                                                      I
                                                          801-585-5618 gardner.utah.edu
1950-1960                                    1960-1970                                      1970-1980
                                                                                                                                                                                                         1980-1990                                    1990-2000                                      2000-2010

                                                                                                                                                                                              30,000

                                                                                                                                                                                              25,000

                                                                                                                                                                                              20,000

                                                                                                                                                                             Net Migration
                                                                                                                                                                                              15,000

 Moving Past Net Migration: Demographic                                                                                                                                                       10,000

                                                                                                                                                                                               5,000

 Characteristics of Utah’s Recent Migrants                                                                                                                                                        0

                                                                                                                                                                                              -5,000
                                                                                                                                                                                                       2010          2011            2012            2013        2014            2015            2016           2017            2018
 Analysis in Brief
    Migration is becoming a more consistent component of                                                                                                                       Utah Resident Population by Migration Status and Domestic
Utah’s population growth as births decline. Most standard                                                                                                                      Out-Migrants, 2014–2018
population estimation work focuses on net migration, the
difference between in and out migration. However, net                                                                                                                        Moved within UT                                                                                                            Did not Move
migration estimates cannot provide detail about gross in and                                                                                                                        393,874                                                                                                             2,633,517
out migration flows, or identify demographic characteristics of
these migrants. Analysis of American Community Survey Public                                                                                                                         In-Migration                                                                                                Out-Migration
Use Microdata highlights key characteristics of recent movers                                                                                                                     Out of State                                                                                                           Domestic
to and from Utah, providing insights into their contributions to
18,000                                                                                                                                                                         18,000
                                                                                                                                                                                    108,110                                                                                                               94,674
the changing demographics of the state.                                                                                                                                         Out of Country
                                                                                                                                                                               16,000                                                                                                                  International
16,000
                                                                                                                                                                                     25,289                                                                                                                  ?
    Utah’s in and out-migrants differ demographically from non-
14,000                                                                                                                                                                         14,000
movers, who are the majority of the resident population. Utah’s                                                                                                                12,000
                                                                                                                                                                               Note: International out-migrants are not included in the data or analysis
12,000
migrants are younger, more racially/ethnically diverse, and                                                                                                                    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 5-Year American Community Survey, Integrated Public
10,000                                                                                                                                                                         10,000
                                                                                                                                                                               Use Microdata Series
more likely to have an undergraduate degree than non-moving
  8,000                                                                                                                                                                              8,000
Utah residents. The age discrepancy between migrants and the
  6,000 Utah population drives much of the differences we see
general                                                                                                                                                                        Key
                                                                                                                                                                                 6,000Findings:
in4,000
     these demographic characteristics. Migration became a                                                                                                                     • 4,000
                                                                                                                                                                                  In-migrants make up 4% of Utah’s population, or 133,000
steadier
  2,000    contributor to Utah’s population growth in the 1990’s                                                                                                                  people, and 25,000 of those in-migrants moved from abroad.
                                                                                                                                                                                 2,000
and the   current patterns are consistent with, and a continuation                                                                                                                There
                                                                                                                                                                                      0
                                                                                                                                                                                          are almost 95,000 domestic out-migrants.
      0
of, what was seen then. Utah’s demographics will undoubtedly                                                                                                                   • A quarter of in-migrants were originally born in Utah, and
                                                                                                                                                                                                 0-4

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     55-59
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             60-64
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     65-69
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             70-74
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     75-79
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             80-84
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     85+
                                                                                                                                                                                                       5-9
                                                                                                                                                                                                             10-14
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     15-19
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             20-24
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     25-29
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             30-34
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     35-39
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             40-44
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     45-49
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             50-54
                                                                                                                55-59
                                                                                                                         60-64
                                                                                                                                  65-69
                                                                                                                                           70-74
                                                                                                                                                   75-79
                                                                                                                                                           80-84
                                                                                                                                                                   85+
                       0-4
                             5-9
                                   10-14
                                           15-19
                                                   20-24
                                                           25-29
                                                                   30-34
                                                                           35-39
                                                                                   40-44
                                                                                           45-49
                                                                                                       50-54

continue to change and evolve as migrants from all over the                                                                                                                       35% of domestic out-migrants where born in Utah.
country and world leave their    imprint Male
                             Female      on the state.                                                                                                                         • At least half of Utah’s in and   domesticMale
                                                                                                                                                                                                               Female        out-migrants originated
                                                                                                                                                                                  from or departed to other Western states or Texas.
 Age Distribution by Mobility Status, 2014–2018                                                                                                                                • Utah is not even in the top 10 recipient states of California’s
                                                                                                                                                                                  out-migrants.
                                                                                                                                                                                  100%
                 0.25
                                                                                                                                                                                   90%
                                                                                                                                                                               • In-migrants     are 71% White alone, 19%non-Hispanic or24%  Latino,
                                                                                                                                                                                                27%
                  0.2                                                                                                                                                              80%
                                                                                                                                                                                  while non-moving Utah residents are 78% White alone,
                                                                                                                                                                                   70%
                                                                                                                                                                                  non-Hispanic or Latino.
Sahre of Total

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      28%
                                                                                                                                                                             Share of Total

                 0.15                                                                                                                                                              60%          23%                                         26%
                                                                                                                                                                                  - Additionally, both in-migrants and domestic out-migrants
                                                                                                                                                                                   50%
                  0.1                                                                                                                                                                 not born in Utah are much more racially and ethnically
                                                                                                                                                                                   40%
                                                                                                                                                                                   30%diverse than their Utah-born counterparts.
                 0.05
                                                                                                                                                                               • In-migrants
                                                                                                                                                                                   20%          have a median age 49%
                                                                                                                                                                                                49%                   of 25 years and domestic
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            44%
                       0                                                                                                                                                          out-migrants
                                                                                                                                                                                   10%            have  a  median  age  of 27, compared    to the
                           0-4
                                 5-9
                                       10-14
                                               15-19
                                                       20-24
                                                               25-29
                                                                       30-34
                                                                               35-39
                                                                                       40-44
                                                                                               45-49
                                                                                                        50-54
                                                                                                                 55-59
                                                                                                                          60-64
                                                                                                                                   65-69
                                                                                                                                           70-74
                                                                                                                                                   75-79
                                                                                                                                                           80-84
                                                                                                                                                                   85+

                                                                                                                                                                                  non-moving
                                                                                                                                                                                     0%           Utah resident median age of 31.
                                                                                                                                                                                             Non-Moving            In-Migrants            Domestic
                                   Non-Moving                                      Domestic                                                In-Migrants
                                                                                                                                                                               • Utah in-migrants      and domestic out-migrants are
                                                                                                                                                                                            Utah Residents                                  more likely
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Out-Migrants
                                   Utah Residents                                  Out-Migrants                                                                                   toEmployed
                                                                                                                                                                                      have a Bachelor’s    degree Unemployed
                                                                                                                                                                                                  Armed Forces    or higher compared
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Not in LFto Under 16
 Note: International out-migrants are not included in the data or analysis                                                                                                        non-moving Utah residents.
 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 5-Year American Community Survey, Integrated Public
 Use Microdata
     0.8        Series

                 0.7
 I N F O R M E D D E C I S I O N S TM
                 0.6
                                                                                                                                                                         1                                                                                           gardner.utah.edu                           I    June 2021
f Total

                 0.5
Table of Contents
Introduction .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 3            Figure 8. Utah Domestic Out-Migrant Destinations,
  Moving past net migration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3                                                             2014–2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
  How do we measure in and out-migration?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4                                                                             Figure 9. Utah In-Migrant Place of Birth, 2014–2018. . . . . . . . 7
The Magnitude of Utah’s Migrants.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 5                                                     Figure 10. Utah In-Migrant Citizenship Status,
Migrant Geographic Characteristics .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 5                                                          2014–2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
  Where are Utah’s migrants coming from? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5                                                                         Figure 11. Race and Ethnicity by Mobility Status,
  Where are Utah’s migrants going? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5                                                                   2014–2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
  Where were in-migrants born? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6                                                               Figure 12. Age and Sex of Utah’s Migrants, 2014–2018. . . . . . 8
  A small share of in-migrants are not U.S. citizens. . . . . . . . . . . 6                                                                            Figure 13. Mobility Status Population Pyramid,
Migrant Demographic Characteristics. .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 8                                                              2014–2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
  Utah’s in-migrants are more racially/ethnically diverse                                                                                              Figure 14. Age Distribution by Mobility Status,
    than domestic out-migrants and non-movers. . . . . . . . . . . . 8                                                                                   2014–2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
  Utah’s migrants are younger than the rest of Utah. . . . . . . . . . 8                                                                               Figure 15. School Grade Attending by Mobility Status,
  Migrants are highly educated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9                                                               2014–2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
  Labor force participation is similar across all groups. . . . . .  11                                                                                Figure 16. Educational Attainment (Ages 25+) by
  Migrants are less likely to be married. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11                                                                      Mobility Status, 2014-2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
Utah Born In-Migrants are Less Racially Diverse and                                                                                                    Figure 17. Employment Status by Mobility Status,
  Have More Children than Remaining In-Migrants .  .  .  .  . 12                                                                                         2014–2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
Migrant Household Characteristics .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 13                                                        Figure 18. Marital Status (Ages 15+) by Mobility
  Migrants need housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13                                                            Status, 2014–2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
  Migrants have more non-family households than                                                                                                        Figure 19. Age Distributions, In-Migrant Subsets,
    the rest of Utah. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13                                                    2014-2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
Discussion and Conclusion.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 14                                         Figure 20. Race and Ethnicity, In-Migrant Subsets,
Endnotes .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 15           2014-2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
                                                                                                                                                       Figure 21. Employment Status, In-Migrant Subsets,
Figures                                                                                                                                                  2014–2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
  Figure 1. Utah Net Migration and Annual Average                                                                                                      Figure 22. School Attending, In-Migrant Subsets,
    Unemployment Rates, 1980-2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3                                                                         2014–2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
  Figure 2. Utah Age-Specific Net Migration Rates,                                                                                                     Figure 23. Educational Attainment (Ages 25+),
    1950-2010. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4                                               In-Migrant Subsets, 2014-–2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
  Figure 3. Utah Net Migration, 2010–2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4                                                                        Figure 24. Housing Tenure by Mobility Status,
  Figure 4. Utah Resident Population by Migration                                                                                                        2014–2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
    Status and Domestic Out-Migrants, 2014–2018. . . . . . . . . . 5                                                                                   Figure 25. Household Type by Mobility Status,
  Figure 5. Utah In-Migrant, Domestic Out-Migrant, and                                                                                                   2014–2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
    Non-Moving Resident Place of Birth, 2014–2018. . . . . . . . . 5
  Figure 6. Utah In-Migrant Domestic Origins, 2014-2018 . . . . 6                                                                                    Table
  Figure 7. Domestic In-Migration Rates to Utah                                                                                                        Table 1. Median Age by Mobility Status, 2014–2018. . . . . . . . 9
    (per 1,000), 2014–2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

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Introduction
   Utah’s modern migration patterns and migrant characteristics                                Moving past net migration
are dynamically evolving. Net in-migration is becoming a more                                    Utah’s net migration varies over time and is heavily influenced
prominent component of population growth in Utah. Gaining a                                    by economic conditions. Net migration in Utah generally
better understanding of who is coming and going provides                                       increases with economic prosperity, and slows or reverses with
essential insights to Utah’s changing population.                                              economic slowdowns or recessions. People move for other
   Nationally, Utah is recognized for its young population, rapid                              reasons, such as for educational or recreational opportunities,
population growth, and high fertility rate. While these signature                              family reunification, or retirement. These migration motives
demographics have remained, the last decade has ushered in a                                   tend to be more likely during specific life periods.4, 5
marked demographic change for the state. Utah was the fastest-                                   Economic conditions tend to be the dominant driver of
growing state in the nation from 2010-2020, but saw a sharp                                    migration in Utah, attracting job seekers during expansions. In
drop in its fertility rate and a steady decline in natural increase.1, 2                       contrast, recessions and loss of economic opportunity add a
Robust in-migration to Utah has become a much more significant                                 layer of uncertainty, and domestic migration may stall
driver of its growth.                                                                          completely until conditions become stable or improve. As
   There is no comprehensive migration tracking system as exists                               shown in Figure 1, when unemployment rates are low in Utah,
for births and deaths. Instead, researchers piece together an                                  net in-migration tends to be high. Inversely, when state
understanding of migration flows by interrelating multiple,                                    unemployment rates are high, net migration to Utah is low or
partial data sources. These data limitations make measuring                                    negative.
gross migration flows notoriously difficult. As a result, the most                               Between 2000 and 2010, Utah attracted two main age groups:
common metric is net migration, the difference between in-                                     young adults between the ages of 15-24 and retirement age
migration and out-migration. Direct observation of net migration                               adults over the age of 60.6 Generally, young adults are a highly
is impossible because it is an analytical concept, and a “net                                  mobile age group. Utah attracts young adults seeking
migrant” is the result of a computation. Most estimates focus on                               educational, economic, and recreational opportunities, along
the number of people Utah nets every year from migration,                                      with steady flows of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
meaning the difference between gross in and out flows.3                                        missionaries.7 Figure 2 shows age specific net migration rates
   As migration becomes a more consistent contributor to                                       for all decades back to the 1950s. The basic patterns persist over
Utah’s population growth, more questions are surfacing about                                   time, while the steady upward shift in the schedule shows
who these recent migrants are and how their demographics                                       increasing rates at all ages in more recent years.
compare to current Utah residents. Utilizing the 5-year American                                 These age patterns of Utah’s decadal net migration hide the
Community Survey Public Use Microdata, the report identifies                                   variation between in and out-migrants. There are different
migration flows, highlights key characteristics of recent movers                               migratory patterns and propensities between in-migrants and
to and from Utah, and provides insights into their contributions                               out-migrants in any given age group. If the age rates of in and
to the changing demographics of the state.                                                     out-migrants were identical, Utah’s net migration rates would

Figure 1. Utah Net Migration and Annual Average Unemployment Rates, 1980–2018
                50,000                                                                                                                                                  10
                                                                                                                                                                        9
                40,000
                                                                                                                                                                        8
                                                                                                                                                                             UT Unemployment Rate

                30,000                                                                                                                                                  7
Net Migration

                20,000                                                                                                                                                  6
                                                                                                                                                                        5
                10,000
                                                                                                                                                                        4
                     0                                                                                                                                                  3
                                                                                                                                                                        2
                -10,000
                                                                                                                                                                        1
                -20,000                                                                                                                                                 0
                          1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018
                                                    Net Migration                  Recession                Average Unemployment Rate

Source: Utah Population Estimates Committee, Utah Population Committee, Federal Reserve of St. Louis, Bureau of Labor Statistics

                30
                                                                                                           62%                         35%                        26%
                25
INFORMED DECISIONS
                20
                                          TM
                                                                                           3                                               gardner.utah.edu   I   June 2021
  er 100)

                                                                                                      Non-Moving                    Domestic
                15                                                                                                                                       In-Migrants
                                                                                                     Utah Residents                Out-Migrants
-20,000                                                                                                                                                                                                                       0
                                     1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 Age
                                                                                                                2010Group
                                                                                                                       2012 2014 2016 2018
                                                                                               Net Migration                                    Recession                              Average Unemployment Rate
                                                                                                                                                                                         1950-1960          1960-1970                   1970-1980
                                                                                                                                                                                         1980-1990          1990-2000                   2000-2010
   Figure 2. Utah Age-Specific Net Migration Rates, 1950-–2010                                                                                                  Figure 3. Utah Net Migration, 2010–2018

                         30                                                                                                                                                   30,00062%                          35%                           26%
                         25
                                                                                                                                                                              25,000
                         20
Net Migrants (per 100)

                                                                                                                                                                                Non-Moving
                                                                                                                                                                              20,000                       Domestic
                         15                                                                                                                                                                                                             In-Migrants
                                                                                                                                                                               Utah Residents             Out-Migrants

                                                                                                                                                              Net Migration
                         10                                                                                                                                                   15,000
                          5
                                                                                                                                                                              10,000
                          0                                                                                                                                                         38%                          65%                           74%
                                                                                                                                                                               5,000
                         -5
                                                                                                                                                                                                Born In Utah             Not Born In Utah
                         -10                                                                                                                                                      0
                         -15                                                                                                                                                  -5,000
                               0-4
                                     5-9
                                           10-14
                                                   15-19
                                                           20-24
                                                                   25-29
                                                                           30-34
                                                                                   35-39
                                                                                           40-44
                                                                                                   45-49
                                                                                                           50-54
                                                                                                                   55-59
                                                                                                                            60-64
                                                                                                                                    65-69
                                                                                                                                            70-74
                                                                                                                                                    75+
                                                                                                                                                                                       2010   2011   2012      2013     2014   2015   2016      2017       2018

                                                                           Age Group

                                       1950-1960                               1960-1970                                   1970-1980
                                       1980-1990                               1990-2000                                   2000-2010

   Source: Winkler et al., 2013                                                                                                                                 Source: Utah Population Committee
                                                                                                                                                              Moved within UT                                                               Did not Move
                         30,000
                                                                                                                                                                     393,874                                                                2,633,517
be 25,000
    close to zero across all ages, as the magnitudes would cancel
each    other out. Both in and out-migrants differ demographically
    20,000                                                                                                                                                            In-Migration       How do we measureOut-Migration
Net Migration

from    non-moving Utah residents, who are the majority of the
    15,000
resident population. Otherwise, Utah’s age and racial/ethnic
    10,000
                                                                                                                                                                        Out of State
                                                                                                                                                                          108,110       in and out-migration?                                 Domestic
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               94,674
characteristics would continue to remain similar.8                                                                                                                     Out of Country                                                       International
      5,000                                                                                                                                                                25,289                                                                 ?
   This   research utilizes the 5-year ACS Public Use Microdata                                                                                                                 This report utilizes American Community Survey (ACS)
Sample0 (PUMS) for the 2014-2018 period. Understanding the                                                                                                                    microdata, known as the Public-Use Micro-Data Sample
overall
     -5,000Utah context during this period is essential to an                                                                                                                 (PUMS).11 The PUMS data allows researchers to create
             2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
accurate interpretation of the migration patterns and                                                                                                                         customized tabulations from ACS responses.
characteristics shown in this report. Throughout the five-year                                                                                                                  The PUMS is available for both the 1-year or 5-year ACS.
period of this analysis, Utah maintained high growth with                                                                                                                     These are considered period estimates rather than point
sustained net in-migration.9 From 2014 through 2018, Utah was                                                                                                                 in time estimates.12 Data is collected almost daily,
in the middle of one of the longest economic expansions in the                                                                                                                meaning estimates are interpreted as an average over the
state’swithin
Moved     history.
               UT
                  10
                     In the national context, Utah ranked     fastest
                                                     Did not Move                                                                                                             period rather than an exact estimate of a given day or
          393,874
growing in housing units from 2016 through 2019      2,633,517
                                                        and fastest                                                                                                           year. The benefit of using 5-year data is the ability to
growing population in 2016. Consequently, this data and its                                                                                                                   utilize more data points, providing a more reliable
trends     represent Utah’s migrant characteristics
  In-Migration                                         and volume
                                                   Out-Migration                                                                                                              estimate, especially for small populations. Assuming
during
    Out ofaState
            period of prosperity and growth (see Figure   3).
                                                      Domestic                                                                                                                there has not been a significant shift or event in that
                  108,110                                                                                                     94,674
                                                                                                                                                                              period, the five-year estimates offer reliable results.
               Out of Country                                                                                              International
                   25,289                                                                                                        ?                                              This report utilizes responses to a question that asks
                                                                                                                                                                              where the person lived one year ago. If their address last
                                                                                                                                                                              year was different from their current residence, they are
                                                                                                                                                                              asked to record their previous address. The resulting data
                                                                                                                                                                              set reports if the respondent did not move, moved within
                                                                                                                                                                              the same state, moved from out of state, or moved from
                                                                                                                                                                              another country. This data allows us to capture both
                                                                                                                                                                              international and domestic inflows, but only domestic
                                                                                                                                                                              outflows.

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Age Group

                                         1950-1960                               1960-1970                                   1970-1980
                                         1980-1990                               1990-2000                                   2000-2010

 The Magnitude of Utah’s Migrants
     30,000
    Approximately
      50,000           133,000 migrants, 4% of Utah’s population,                                                                                                  Out of the 133,000 in-migrants, about 25% or 35,000   10 are
 moved
     25,000into
      40,000     Utah  in the previous 12 months during the 2014-                                                                                               returning to their birth state. These Utah-born in-migrants
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         9 left
 2018   period. Roughly 25,000 of those in-migrants moved from                                                                                                  the state at some point (possibly more than once), and8 have

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 UT Unemployment Rate
     20,000
      30,000                                                                                                                                                                                                             7
 abroad. However, most of Utah’s population did not move;                                                                                                       now returned (see Figure 5). About one-third of domestic out-
     Migration
 NetMigration

     15,000                                                                                                                                                                                                              6
      20,000
 around    83% or 2.6 million people stayed in the same home, and                                                                                               migrants were born in Utah meaning two-thirds of domestic
     10,000                                                                                                                                                                                                              5
 13%10,000
         of residents, roughly 394,000, moved within Utah.                                                                                                      out-migrants were born somewhere else, moved to Utah, and
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         4
Net

 Alternatively,
       5,000      at least 95,000 people decided to leave Utah over                                                                                             later moved elsewhere. Lastly, a little less than two-thirds
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         3   of
            0
 a single 0year for another state. This data does not capture those                                                                                             Utahns who stayed within the state since last year were born
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         2   in
     -10,000
 moving
      -5,000to international destinations from Utah.                                                                                                            Utah, meaning 38% of non-movers were born in a different 1
                           -20,000 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018                                                                                 state or country during this period.                     0
                                   1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018
                                                                                                 Net Migration                                    Recession                 Average Unemployment Rate
     Figure 4. Utah Resident Population by Migration Status and                                                                                                 Figure 5. Utah In-Migrant, Domestic Out-Migrant, and
     Domestic Out-Migrants, 2014–2018                                                                                                                           Non-Moving Resident Place of Birth, 2014–2018

    30
                                                                                                                                                                           62%                          35%                           26%
  Moved
    25 within UT                                                                                                              Did not Move
        393,874                                                                                                               2,633,517
    20
  Net Migrants (per 100)

                                                                                                                                                                      Non-Moving                    Domestic
                           15                                                                                                                                                                                                    In-Migrants
                                                                                                                                                                     Utah Residents                Out-Migrants
                In-Migration
                  10                                                                                                   Out-Migration
                    5 of State
                  Out                                                                                                          Domestic
                    0108,110                                                                                                    94,674                                     38%                          65%                           74%
                 Out
                   -5 of Country                                                                                             International
                      25,289                                                                                                       ?                                                   Born In Utah             Not Born In Utah
                  -10
                           -15
     Note: International out-migrants are not included in the data or analysis                                                                                  Note: International out-migrants are not included in the data or analysis
                                 0-4
                                       5-9
                                             10-14
                                                     15-19
                                                             20-24
                                                                     25-29
                                                                             30-34
                                                                                     35-39
                                                                                             40-44
                                                                                                     45-49
                                                                                                             50-54
                                                                                                                     55-59
                                                                                                                              60-64
                                                                                                                                      65-69
                                                                                                                                              70-74
                                                                                                                                                      75+

     Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 5-Year American Community Survey, Integrated Public                                                                       Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 5-Year American Community Survey, Integrated Public
     Use Microdata Series                                                                                                                                       Use Microdata Series
                                                                             Age Group

                                         1950-1960                               1960-1970                                   1970-1980
                                         1980-1990                               1990-2000                                   2000-2010

 Migrant
  30,000
         Geographic Characteristics
 Where
     25,000are Utah’s migrants coming from?                                                                                                                     propensity of each state to supply migrants to Utah.17 Exploring
    Consistent with historic migration patterns, the western                                                                                                    the migration rates reveals Idaho sent the most population-
     20,000
 region provides almost 50% of Utah’s in-migrants: California,                                                                                                  adjusted in-migrants to Utah, 5.3 migrants per 1,000 residents,
  Net Migration

     15,000
 Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and Arizona are key source states.                                                                                                  followed by Wyoming, Hawaii, Nevada, Montana, and
 The10,000
       Southern region accounts for nearly a third of Utah’s in-                                                                                                Washington.
 migrants,
       5,000 with Texas and Florida supplying the most in-
 migrants. 0 Of those that moved from abroad, the largest shares                                                                                                Where are Utah’s migrants going?
 come from South and Central America.13 Figure 6 displays the                                                                                                     Utah exports about half of its domestic out-migrants either to
      -5,000
 origin states
             2010for 2011
                     Utah’s2012
                            domestic
                                 2013 in-migrants
                                        2014 2015 from
                                                     20162014-2018.
                                                             2017 2018                                                                                          other states in the western region or to Texas, which also
    California is the largest single source of domestic in-migrants                                                                                             experienced the largest absolute population growth from
 for Utah. This is not surprising since it is the most populated state                                                                                          2010-2020.18 Utah’s largest share of out-migrants went to
 in the nation and has had significant domestic net out-migration                                                                                               California, followed by Texas, Washington, and Idaho (see Figure
 since 1990.14, 15 However, Utah is not even in the top 10 recipient                                                                                            8). It is typical for most moves to happen between neighboring
 states of California’s out-migrants. In 2018, Utah received                                                                                                    states, with less frequent moves to more distant destinations.19
 Moved within UT                                         Did not Move
 approximately
           393,874 18,000 Californians, while Arizona, Texas,   Nevada,
                                                         2,633,517                                                                                              Long distance moves occur more frequently when the
 and Washington each received over 50,000 Californians.        16
                                                                                                                                                                destination state is larger. As an example, Utah had greater out-
    Figure 7 shows the in-migration rates to Utah Out-Migration
                                                      from each state.                                                                                          migration to Texas than New Mexico.
   In-Migration
 This calculation adjusts for population size and provides the
                  Out of State                                                                                                 Domestic
                    108,110                                                                                                     94,674
                 Out of Country                                                                                              International
                     25,289                                                                                                        ?
 I N F O R M E D D E C I S I O N S TM                                                                                                                       5                                                 gardner.utah.edu        I   June 2021
5.3%
Figure 6. Utah In-Migrant
                                                                                                                                                                      0.1%
Domestic Origins, 2014–2018                       5.3%                         1.1%              0.5%
                                                 4.1%                                                            0.1%                                                            0.0%
Note: Does not include                                                        1.1%              0.5%                                                                0.1%       0.3%
international in-migration                                      6.6%                                                          1.2%                                            2.0%
                                                                                                                                                                               0.0%
                                             4.1%                                                 0.0%          0.1%                                        2.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 5-Year                                          1.3%                                                 0.5%                                  0.1%
                                                                                                                                                                             0.3%
American Community Survey, Integrated                        6.6%                                                         1.2%                                             0.5%
                                                                                                                                                                            2.0%
                                                                                                0.0%              0.7%                          2.4%
                                                                                                                                             0.3%
Public Use Microdata Series                                                     1.3%              0.5%                      0.5%                                         0.5%
                                                                                                                                                                          0.1%
                                                        3.3%                                                                      1.0%
                                                                                                                      1.7% 0.2%             0.3%                        0.5%
                                                                                                                                                                         0.5%
                                                                                                           0.7%
                                                                                      3.8%      0.5%                                                                  0.6%
                                                                                                                                                                       0.5%
                                           16.6% 3.3%                                               0.4%       0.5% 1.7% 0.2%
                                                                                                                                 1.0%  0.1%
                                                                                                                                              1.3%                   0.1%
                                                                                                                                                                      0.5%
                                                                                                                              0.3%                                  0.6%
                                                                                     3.8%                                            0.1% 0.5%
                                          16.6%                                                    0.4%       0.5%          0.8%            1.3%                   0.1%
                                                                                                      0.1%                   0.3%
                                                                 4.6%                                           0.3%
                                                                                 1.1%                                                     0.3%
                                                                                                                                           0.5%
                                                                                                                           0.8%
                                                                4.6%                                 0.1%                   0.2%    2.0%
                                                                                1.1%                          0.3% 0.3%                 0.3%
              0.7%
                                                                                                 7.2%
                                           2.1%                                                                  0.3%0.3% 0.2% 2.0%
            0.7%
                                                                                                7.2%
                                          2.1%                                                                         0.3%
                                                                                                                                               3.0%

                                                                                                                                              3.0%

Figure 7. Domestic In-Migration
Rates to Utah (per 1,000),                              0.98
2014–2018                                                                        1.41                                                                                 0.12
                                                     0.98                                          0.86
                                                                                                                  0.02                                                           0.00
Note: Does not include                              1.37                                                                                                             0.12
                                                                                1.41              0.86                                                                         0.32
international in-migration                                        5.29                             0.00                        0.27                         0.16              0.38
                                                                                                                                                                               0.00
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 5-Year            1.37                                                          0.02                  0.07
                                                                                      3.02                                                                                  0.08
                                                                                                                                                                             0.32
American Community Survey, Integrated                                                                                         0.27                                         0.19
                                                                                                                                                                            0.38
                                                                 5.29                            0.00                  0.29                                0.16
                                                                                                                                                         0.04
Public Use Microdata Series                                                                         0.33                              0.07                               0.07
                                                                                                                                                                          0.08
                                                                                     3.02                                                     0.11
                                                         1.52                                                                                                           0.12
                                                                                                                                                                         0.19
                                                                                                                  0.29           0.18 0.03            0.04
                                                                                        0.93      0.33                                            0.06                0.09
                                                                                                                                                                       0.07
                                                  0.571.52                                            0.18                                0.11         0.21
                                                                                                                         0.11 0.18 0.030.08                          0.30
                                                                                                                                                                      0.12
                                                                                       0.93                                                      0.06               0.09
                                                 0.57                                                0.18              0.11            0.15            0.06
                                                                                                                                                     0.21          0.30
                                                                                                        0.03                           0.08
                                                                       0.91           0.67                               0.15                       0.07
                                                                                                                                     0.15            0.06
                                                                    0.91                                 0.03                                  0.26
                   1.21                                                              0.67                               0.15     0.12 0.05        0.07
                                                                                                    0.35                  0.08 0.12 0.05      0.26
                 1.21                      1.97
                                                                                                  0.35                  0.08
                                          1.97
                                                                                                                                                0.20

                                                                                                                                               0.20

Where were in-migrants born?                                                A small share of in-migrants are not U.S. citizens
  The birthplaces of Utah in-migrants can differ from the origin              Utah’s in-migrants are overwhelmingly U.S. born, or born as
state or nation they moved from. We can estimate
                                              7.3% how many of              U.S. citizens abroad to U.S. parents. A small share of Utah’s in-
the in-migrants coming from certain states and countries were    1.8%       migrants,
                                                                                  0.5% 17%, were born in another country, and of those, 4%
                                                                                                                                            0.1%
                                             7.3%
born in Utah by identifying their birth state.
                                           2.4%                             are naturalized1.1%citizens while the other 13% are not U.S.             0.2%
                                                                                                                                               citizens
                                                                1.8%                                                                      0.1% 0.0%
                                                                                 0.5%
  The vast majority (82%) of Utah in-migrants were6.7%  born in the         (see Figure
                                                                                   0.0% 10).    This includes
                                                                                                       2.0%    both documented    0.4%(e.g., refugees,
                                                                                                                                                   0.5%
                                                                                                                                                    0.2%
                                          2.4%                                               1.1%
United States. Approximately a quarter of in-migrants, the largest  1.1%                                        0.9%
                                                                            those here on work or school visas, and others21),0.3%                  and
                                                                                                                                                  0.0%
                                                     6.7%                        0.0%                 2.0%                       0.4%           0.9%
                                                                                                                                                 0.5%
share from a single state, were born in Utah and have returned              undocumented        0.1%
                                                                                                immigrants.                    2.6%
                                                                   1.1%            0.3%                        0.9%                            0.0%
                                                                                                                                                0.3%
                                                5.0%                                                                 2.0%
(see Figure 9).20 Regionally, the west supplies the most in-                                   0.1%      2.5% 1.2%           2.6%            1.4%
                                                                                                                                              0.9%
                                                                        5.3%     0.3%                                                       0.1%
                                                                                                                                             0.0%
migrants, with the largest share (13%) born  in5.0%
                                                California. All other                 0.4%                          2.0% 0.0%3.4%         0.2%
                                                                                                                                            1.4%
                                        10.3%                                                      3.9%2.5% 1.2%
                                                                                                                 0.9%
states contribute 3% or less of their native-born population.5.3%                                                       0.0%              0.1%
                                       10.3%                                        0.4%          3.9%         1.3%           1.9%
                                                                                                                            3.4%         0.2%
Internationally, the most prominent places of birth were5.4% Mexico                     4.7%                   0.9%
                                                                     1.7%                           0.6%                   3.2%
                                                                                                                            1.9%
and Brazil and other South and Central American countries.                                                   1.3%
                                                                  5.4%                                 4.7%                                    1.1%
                  0.3%                                                           1.7%                                  0.6%      0.6% 0.1%        3.2%
                                                                                                   8.1%
                                           0.2%                                                                              0.6% 0.1% 1.1%
June 2021     I 0.3%
                gardner.utah.edu                                                            6
                                                                                                 8.1%
                                                                                                                          0.9%        I N F O R M E D D E C I S I O N S TM
                                          0.2%
                                                                                                                        0.9%
                                                                                                                                                4.2%
Figure 8. Utah Domestic
Out-Migrant Destinations,                             7.3%
2014–2018                                                                       1.8%              0.5%
                                                                                                                                                                      0.1%
                                                    2.4%                                                        1.1%                                                        0.2%
Note: International out-migrants are not
                                                                                                                                                                           0.0%
included in the data or analysis                                                                                          2.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 5-Year                           6.7%                            0.0%                                                      0.4%          0.5%
                                                                                 1.1%                                                0.9%                                0.3%
American Community Survey, Integrated
Public Use Microdata Series                                                                                       0.1%                                 2.6%             0.9%
                                                                                                   0.3%                                                                0.0%
                                                          5.0%                                                                              2.0%
                                                                                                                               2.5% 1.2%                              1.4%
                                                                                       5.3%                                                       0.0%               0.1%
                                               10.3%                                                 0.4%           3.9%                              3.4%          0.2%
                                                                                                                                      0.9%
                                                                                                                                    1.3%              1.9%
                                                                   5.4%                                  4.7%
                                                                                  1.7%                                 0.6%                         3.2%

            0.3%                                                                                                               0.6% 0.1%     1.1%
                                                                                                   8.1%
                                            0.2%
                                                                                                                        0.9%

                                                                                                                                              4.2%

Figure 9. Utah In-Migrant
Place of Birth, 2014–2018                            2.9%
                                                            2.9%               0.9%                                                                                 0.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 5-Year                                                           0.0%
American Community Survey, Integrated                                             0.9%                          0.6%                                                0.3%      0.0%
                                                   2.1%                                             0.0%
Public Use Microdata Series                                                                                       0.6% 0.8%
                                                                                                                                                                             0.2%
                                                                                                                                                                             0.0%
                                                          2.1%                                                                                             1.4%             0.8%
                                                                 3.3%                             0.0%                                                                      0.2%
                                                                        3.3%     0.3%                                    0.8%       1.0%                   1.4%           0.1%
                                                                                                                                                                           0.8%
                                                                                                    0.0%
                                                                                       0.3%                                           1.0%                               0.5%
                                                                                                                                                                         0.1%
                                                                                                                 0.4%                                 0.6%
                                                                                                  0.8%                                                0.6%              0.5%
                                                                                                                                                                       0.9%
                                                       1.1%                                          0.8%          0.4%                    1.6%                        0.9%
                                                                                                                                                                      1.2%
                                                              1.1%26.2%                                                   1.5% 0.7%         1.6%
                                                                          26.2% 2.0%                                           1.5% 0.7%                             1.2%
                                                                                                                                                                    0.1%
                                                                                                                                              0.0% 1.5%             0.1%
                                              13.2%                                 2.0%            0.6%           0.5%                        0.0% 1.5%           0.2%
                                                     13.2%                                               0.6%          0.5%          0.6%                          0.2%
                                                                                                                                      0.6%
                                                                                                                                   0.5%              0.6%
                                                                                                                                     0.5%             0.6%
                                                                  1.8%                               0.5%
                                                                         1.8%    0.6%                     0.5%     0.4%                            0.6%
                                                                                       0.6%                             0.4%                       0.6%
                                                                                                                              0.1%  0.3% 0.6%
             1.3%                                                                                                               0.1% 0.3% 0.6%
                      1.3%
                                                                                                  3.1%
                                                                                                     3.1%          0.4%
                                            1.3% 1.3%                                                                0.4%

                                                                                                                                             1.5%
                                                                                                                                              1.5%

Figure 10. Utah In-Migrant Citizenship Status, 2014–2018

                                                        82% Born in U.S.                                                                             71% White, alone
                                                   82% Born in U.S.                                                                                  71% White, alone

                                                          13% Not a U.S. Citizen                                                                     17% Hispanic
                                                   13% Not a U.S. Citizen                                                                            17% Hispanic

                                                          4% U.S. citizen by                                                                         3% Two + races
                                                   4% U.S. citizen by
                                                        naturalization                                                                               3% Two + races
                                                   naturalization
                                                                                                            In-Migrants                              0% Some other race, alone
                                                       1% Born abroad of
                                                                                                          In-Migrants                                0% Some other race, alone
                                                                                                                                                     1% NH or Pac Islander, alone
                                                   1% Born abroadParents
                                                       American   of                                                                                 1% NH or Pac Islander, alone
                                                   American Parents                                                                                  5% Asian, alone
                                                          0.2% Born in PR, Guam,                                                                     5%
                                                         VirgininIslands, or                                                                         1% Asian, alone
                                                                                                                                                        American  Indian or Alaska
                                                   0.2% Born       PR, Guam,                                                                            Native, alone
                                                   VirginNorth   marianas
                                                          Islands,   or                                                                              1% American   Indian or Alaska
                                                   North marianas                                                                                    2%Native,  alone
                                                                                                                                                        Black, alone
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 5-Year American Community Survey, Integrated Public                                                                 2% Black, alone
Use Microdata Series                                                                                                                                 79% White, alone
                                                                                                                                                     79% White, alone
I N F O R M E D D E C I S I O N S TM                                                          7
                                                                                                                                                     13% Hispanic
                                                                                                                                              gardner.utah.edu         I   June 2021
                                                                                                                                                     13% Hispanic
                                                                                                                                                     3% Two + races
                                                                                                                Domestic
0.3%
0.9%
              Migrant
                0.0%
                       Demographic Characteristics
                      0.6%                   0.0%
                                                                                                                                                0.2%
              Utah’s
                   0.0%in-migrants 0.8%
                                     are more racially/ethnically
                                                               1.4%    diverse
                                                                            0.8%                                                                                        one-third of out-migrants were born in Utah. Similar to the Utah-
     0.3%                                     1.0%                         0.1%
              than domestic out-migrants          and non-movers                                                                                                        born in-migrant analysis, out-migrants originally born in Utah are
                                                           0.6%           0.5%
                              0.4%
                Utah’s
                   0.8% in-migrant    population is younger       and more
                                                                         0.9%racially/                                                                                  much less diverse than the out-migrants not born in Utah.
                                                   1.6%                 1.2%
              ethnically diverse than 1.5%the
                                            0.7%state as a whole. The     total Utah
                                                                       0.1%
       2.0%                                           0.0% 1.5%
              population is 78% White alone,
                      0.6%       0.5%
                                               0.6%
                                                    non-Hispanic, and in-migrants
                                                                      0.2%                                                                                              Utah’s migrants are younger than the rest of Utah
              are 71% White alone, non-Hispanic.220.6%        The most significant                                                                                        Utah’s in-migrant age structure peaks in young adulthood,
                                             0.5%
                        0.5%
              difference in the0.4% minority shares is0.6% the Hispanic or Latino                                                                                       with the most significant share clustering between ages 15-29,
     0.6%
              population, accounting for0.3%   17% 0.6%
                                                     of the in-migrant population                                                                                       sharply spiking in the 20-24 age group. These results suggest
                                       0.1%
              rather  than 14% of non-moving Utah residents.
                   3.1%
                                                                                                                                                                        that Utah’s young population is not just a result of sustained
                                 0.4%
                The racial makeup of Utah’s out-migrants closely mirrors the                                                                                            and high fertility but also due to its young in-migrant population.
              state’s overall racial and ethnic demographics. Whereas in-                                                                                               As noted, young adults have the highest migration rates in
              migrants are more racially diverse1.5%  than the state, those leaving                                                                                     general. For Utah, migrants are coming for economic opportunity,
              Utah mimic the state’s general demographics even though only                                                                                              higher education, and returning missionaries of the Church of

              Figure 11. Race and Ethnicity by Mobility Status, 2014–2018                                                                                              Figure 12. Age and Sex of Utah’s Migrants, 2014–2018
                                                                                                     71% White, alone                                                  In-Migrants
n                                                                                                    17% Hispanic                                                      18,000                                                                                                                                                                        18,00

                                                                                                                                                                       16,000                                                                                                                                                                        16,00
                                                                                                     3% Two + races                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  14,00
                                                                                                                                                                       14,000
                               In-Migrants                                                           0% Some other race, alone
                                                                                                                                                                       12,000                                                                                                                                                                        12,00
                                                                                                     1% NH or Pac Islander, alone
                                                                                                                                                                       10,000                                                                                                                                                                        10,00
                                                                                                     5% Asian, alone
m,                                                                                                                                                                           8,000                                                                                                                                                                         8,00
                                                                                                     1% American Indian or Alaska
                                                                                                        Native, alone
                                                                                                                                                                             6,000                                                                                                                                                                         6,00
                                                                                                     2% Black, alone
                                                                                                                                                                             4,000                                                                                                                                                                         4,00
                                                                                                     79% White, alone                                                        2,000                                                                                                                                                                         2,00

                                                                                                                                                                                         0
                                                                                                     13% Hispanic

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            65-69
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     70-74
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             75-79
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     80-84
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             85+
                                                                                                                                                                                                    5-9
                                                                                                                                                                                                          10-14
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  15-19
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            20-24

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              30-34
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       35-39
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                40-44
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        45-49
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 50-54
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          55-59
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   60-64
                                                                                                                                                                                              0-4

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     25-29

                                                                                                     3% Two + races
                                Domestic                                                                                                                                                                                                         Female                          Male
                               Out-Migrants                                                          0% Some other race, alone
                                                                                                     0% NH or Pac Islander, alone                                      Domestic Out-Migrants

              18,000                                                                                 3% Asian, alone                                                      18,000                                                                                                                                                                               100
                                                                                                     0% American Indian or Alaska                                             0.25
              16,000                                                                                    Native, alone                                                     16,000                                                                                                                                                                                    90

                                                                                                                                                                               0.2
                                                                                                                                                                          14,000                                                                                                                                                                                    80
              14,000                                                                                 2% Black, alone
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    70
                                                                                                                                                                       Sahre of Total

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Share of Total
              12,000                                                                                                                                                      12,000
                                                                                                                                                                              0.15                                                                                                                                                                                  60
                                                                                                     78% White, alone
              10,000                                                                                                                                                      10,000                                                                                                                                                                                    50
                                                                                                                                                                               0.1
               8,000                                                                                 14% Hispanic                                                          8,000                                                                                                                                                                                    40
                                                                                                                                                                                   0.05                                                                                                                                                                             30
               6,000                                                                                                                                                            6,000
                                                                                                     3% Two + races                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 20
               4,000        Non-Moving                                                                                                                                          4,0000
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    10
                                                                                                     0% Some other race, alone
                           Utah Residents
                                                                                                                                                                                               0-4
                                                                                                                                                                                                     5-9
                                                                                                                                                                                                            10-14
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     15-19
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              20-24
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       25-29
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                30-34
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        35-39
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 40-44
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         45-49
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  50-54
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           55-59
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    60-64
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             65-69
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     70-74
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             75-79
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     80-84
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             85+

               2,000                                                                                                                                                            2,000                                                                                                                                                                                0
                                                                                                     1% NH or Pac Islander, alone
                     0                                                                               2% Asian, alone                                                                     0
                                                                                                                                                                                                          Non-Moving                                            Domestic                                             In-Migrants
                                                                                                                                                                                              0-4

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     80-84
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             85+
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        35-39
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                40-44
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         45-49
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 50-54
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          55-59
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   60-64
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            65-69
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     70-74
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             75-79
                                                                                                                                                                                                    5-9
                                                                                                                                                                                                          10-14
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    15-19
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             20-24
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      25-29
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               30-34
                                                                                                     50-54
                                                                                                             55-59
                                                                                                                     60-64

                                                                                                                                     70-74
                                                                                                                                             75-79
                                                                                                                                                     80-84
                                                                                                                                                             85+
                                                                             35-39
                                                                                     40-44
                                                                                             45-49

                                                                                                                             65-69
                         0-4
                               5-9
                                     10-14
                                             15-19
                                                     20-24
                                                             25-29
                                                                     30-34

                                                                                                     1% American Indian or Alaska                                                                         Utah Residents                                        Out-Migrants
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Em
                                                                                                        Native, alone
                                                                        Female                       1% Black, alone
                                                                                                     Male                                                                                                                                         Female                          Male
                                                                                                                                                                                        0.8
              Note: International out-migrants are not included in the data or analysis                                                                                 Note: International out-migrants are not included in the data or analysis
              Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 5-Year American Community Survey, Integrated Public                                                                      Source:
                                                                                                                                                                            0.7U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 5-Year American Community Survey, Integrated Public
              Use Microdata Series                                                                                                                                      Use Microdata Series
                                                                                                                                                                                    100%
                                                                                                                                                                                     0.6
                    0.25
                                                                                                                                                                       al of Total

              June 2021         I    gardner.utah.edu                                                                                                              8
                                                                                                                                                                                     90%
                                                                                                                                                                                     0.5
                                                                                                                                                                                     80%
                                                                                                                                                                                                             27%
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   19%
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                I N F O R M E D D E C24%
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      I S I O N S TM
                     0.2
                                                                                                                                                                                     0.4
                                                                                                                                                                       hare

                                                                                                                                                                                     70%
              tal

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   28%
Figure 13. Mobility Status Population Pyramid, 2014–2018
   85+
 80-84
 75-79
18,000                                                                                                                                                                         18,000
 70-74
 65-69                                                                                                                                                                         16,000
16,000
 60-64
 55-59
14,000                                                                                                                                                                         14,000
 50-54
 45-49
12,000                                                                                                                                                                         12,000
 40-44
 35-39
10,000                                                                                                                                                                         10,000
 30-34
 8,000                                                                                                                                                                               8,000
 25-29
 20-24                                                                                                                                                                               6,000
 6,000
 15-19
 10-14
 4,000                                                                                                                                                                               4,000
    5-9
    0-4
 2,000                                                                                                                                                                               2,000
       25,000                                   0                   25,000                                                75,000                                         125,000                                   175,000                                           225,000                                              275,000
      0                                                                                                                                                                          0
                                                                                        Non-Moving Utah Residents                                                         In-Migrants                                Domestic Out-Migrants

                                                                                                                                                                                              0-4

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          60-64
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  65-69
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          70-74
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  75-79
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          80-84
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  85+
                                                                                                                                                                                                    5-9
                                                                                                                                                                                                          10-14
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  15-19
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          20-24
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  25-29
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          30-34
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  35-39
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          40-44
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  45-49
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          50-54
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  55-59
                                                                                                                         60-64
                                                                                                                                  65-69
                                                                                                                                           70-74
                                                                                                                                                   75-79
                                                                                                                                                           80-84
                                                                                                                                                                   85+
                                                                                    40-44
                                                                                            45-49
                                                                                                       50-54
                                                                                                                55-59
                       0-4
                             5-9
                                   10-14
                                           15-19
                                                    20-24
                                                            25-29
                                                                    30-34
                                                                            35-39

 Note: International out-migrants are not included in the data or analysis
 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 5-Year American Community
                                       Female           Male Survey, Integrated Public Use Microdata Series                                                                                                                                  Female                       Male

 Figure 14. Age Distribution by Mobility Status, 2014–2018                                                                                                                   Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.23 It is also important to note that
                                                                                                                                                                                100%
                                                                                                                                                                             Utah  attracts a steady amount of retirement migration in ages 55
                 0.25
                                                                                                                                                                                 90% 74, though it is dwarfed 19%
                                                                                                                                                                             through                               by the surge of education      and
                                                                                                                                                                                             27%                                         24%
                                                                                                                                                                                 80%
                  0.2                                                                                                                                                        labor-related migration. Figure 12 shows Utah’s migrant
                                                                                                                                                                                                          24
                                                                                                                                                                                 70%
                                                                                                                                                                             population broken down by age and     28% sex.
Sahre of Total

                                                                                                                                                                             Share of Total

                 0.15                                                                                                                                                            60%         23%                                         26%
                                                                                                                                                                                Utah’s domestic out-migrant age structure is also young, with
                                                                                                                                                                                 50%
                  0.1                                                                                                                                                        the40%
                                                                                                                                                                                  most significant number clustering around ages 25-29, with
                 0.05
                                                                                                                                                                             another
                                                                                                                                                                                 30% uptick in the 0-4 age group. This suggests Utah exports
                                                                                                                                                                             recent          49% of higher education
                                                                                                                                                                                 20% graduates                     49% and those early   44% in their
                       0                                                                                                                                                     careers
                                                                                                                                                                                 10% but still old enough to have started a family. Female out-
                           0-4
                                 5-9
                                       10-14
                                               15-19
                                                       20-24
                                                               25-29
                                                                       30-34
                                                                               35-39
                                                                                       40-44
                                                                                               45-49
                                                                                                        50-54
                                                                                                                 55-59
                                                                                                                          60-64
                                                                                                                                   65-69
                                                                                                                                           70-74
                                                                                                                                                   75-79
                                                                                                                                                           80-84
                                                                                                                                                                   85+

                                                                                                                                                                             migrants
                                                                                                                                                                                  0% tend to leave more evenly spread out across ages 15-29,
                                                                                                                                                                                          Non-Moving            In-Migrants            Domestic
                                   Non-Moving                                       Domestic                                               In-Migrants                       whereas males    sharply leave around the 25-29 ageOut-Migrants
                                                                                                                                                                                         Utah Residents                                group.25
                                   Utah Residents                                   Out-Migrants                                                                                There  are dramatic
                                                                                                                                                                                 Employed             differences
                                                                                                                                                                                               Armed Forces        between the
                                                                                                                                                                                                               Unemployed      Notage
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   in LFdistributions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Under 16
 Note: International out-migrants are not included in the data or analysis                                                                                                   of in-migrants, domestic out-migrants, and everyone else in
 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 5-Year American Community Survey, Integrated Public                                                                                        Utah (see Figure 14). In-migrants are overwhelmingly young,
 Use Microdata
     0.8        Series
                                                                                                                                                                             with a considerable share belonging to the 20-24 age group;
                 0.7
                                                                                                                                                                             domestic out-migrants are similar but clustered around the 25-
 Table
    0.6 1. Median Age by Mobility Status, 2014–2018                                                                                                                          29 age group. Additionally, out-migrants have more
Share of Total

                 0.5                                                                                                                      Median Age                         preschoolers than in-migrants. At the same time, Utah’s non-
       State
          0.4of Utah                                                                                                               30.7                                      movers have a more equal distribution across all ages that
       Non-Moving
         0.3      Utah Residents                                                                                                   31                                        slowly declines as the population ages.
       Domestic
          0.2   Out-Migrants                                                                                                       27                                           Median age identifies the exact center of the population age
       In-Migrants
          0.1                                                                                                                      25                                        distribution, with half the population older and half the
 Note: International out-migrants are not included in the data or analysis                                                                                                   population younger. Overall, Utah’s median age in the study
        0
 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 5-Year American Community Survey, Integrated Public
                   Not Attending                        Nursery/Prek                                                                                                        k-12                  College Undergrad
 Use Microdata Series                                                                                                                                                        period was 30.7 years.       In-migrants had aGrad    or Professional
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               median      age of 25
                                                                                       Non-Moving Utah Residents                                                         In-Migrants         Domestic  Out-Migrants
                                                                                                                                                                             years, and domestic out-migrants had a median age of 27 years.
                                                                                                                                                                             If we removed the in-migrants from the Utah population, the
                                                                                                                                                                             median age of 30.7 years would increase to 31 years. This
                                       Doctorate
 Prof. Degree (beyond Bach)
                                                                                                                                                                             indicates that in-migrants while still much younger than the
                                   Master Deg.                                                                                                                               rest of Utah, barely affect the overall median age.
                                  Bach. Degree
                                 Assoc. Degree
            Some College, no degree
                             HS diploma/GED
 I N F O R M E Less
               D Dthan
                    E CHS
                       I S I O N S TM                                                                                                                                    9                                                                                        gardner.utah.edu                           I    June 2021
                                                None
6,000                                                                                                                                                                                            6,000
 12,000                                                                                                                                                                                           12,000
  4,000                                                                                                                                                                                            4,000
 10,000                                                                                                                                                                                           10,000
  2,000                                                                                                                                                                                            2,000
 Migrants
  8,000   are highly educated                                                                                                                                                                     (BYU)
                                                                                                                                                                                                   8,000 reliably attract tens of thousands of individuals from out
      A little
        0      over 60% of Utah in-migrants are not attending school,                                                                                                                                   0
                                                                                                                                                                                                  of6,000
                                                                                                                                                                                                      state, and likely accounts for a good share of those in the
    6,000

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  0-4

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              60-64

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              80-84
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      85+
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      45-49
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              50-54
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      55-59

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      65-69
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              70-74
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      75-79
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5-9
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10-14
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      15-19
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              20-24
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      25-29
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              30-34
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      35-39
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              40-44
                                                                                                                                                   65-69
                                                                                                                                                            70-74
                                                                                                                                                                    75-79
                                                                                                                                                                            80-84
                                                                                                                                                                                    85+
                                       0-4
                                             5-9
                                                      10-14
                                                              15-19
                                                                      20-24
                                                                              25-29
                                                                                      30-34
                                                                                              35-39
                                                                                                      40-44
                                                                                                              45-49
                                                                                                                        50-54
                                                                                                                                 55-59
                                                                                                                                          60-64
   but of the 40% who are, about half of them are attending either                                                                                                                                “some
                                                                                                                                                                                                   4,000  college,  but no degree” category.26, 27
    4,000
   undergraduate programs or graduate/professional programs.                                                                                                                                        In the domestic out-migrant population aged 25 years and
    2,000                          Female      Male                                                                                                                                                2,000                       Female        Male
   Both non-moving Utah residents and domestic out-migrants                                                                                                                                       over, the most common educational attainment is a Bachelor’s
                                                                                                                                                                                                       0
   have0 a larger share of those who are not attending school com-                                                                                                                                degree, and a little less than half of domestic out-migrants have

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  0-4

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      85+
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      45-49
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              50-54
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      55-59
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              60-64
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      65-69
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              70-74
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      75-79
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              80-84
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5-9
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10-14
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      15-19
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              20-24
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      25-29
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              30-34
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      35-39
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              40-44
                                                                                                                                                   65-69
                                                                                                                                                            70-74
                                                                                                                                                                    75-79
                                                                                                                                                                            80-84
                                                                                                                                                                                    85+
                                                                                      30-34
                                                                                              35-39
                                                                                                      40-44
                                                                                                              45-49
                                                                                                                        50-54
                                                                                                                                 55-59
                                                                                                                                          60-64
                                       0-4
                                             5-9
                                                      10-14
                                                              15-19
                                                                      20-24
                                                                              25-29
   pared to in-migrants. Alternatively, in-migrants have a significant-                                                                                                                           a Bachelor’s degree or higher. Another 35% of those domestic
                                                                                                                                                                                                    100%
   ly higher
       0.25 share of undergraduate college attendance compared                                                                                                                                    out-migrants    over the ageFemale
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 of 25 have     at least a high school
                                   Female      Male                                                                                                                                                  90%                               19% Male                 24%
   to the other two groups. The higher median ages of both                                                                                                                                        degree   but    27%
                                                                                                                                                                                                               less  than an Associate’s  degree.
        0.2                                                                                                                                                                                          80%
   non-moving Utahns and domestic out-migrants (31 years and 27                                                                                                                                     The
                                                                                                                                                                                                     70% data clearly shows that Utah in-migrants and out-
Sahre of Total Sahre of Total

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       28%

                                                                                                                                                                                               Share of Total Share of Total
   years
       0.15respectively) are past the traditional age of higher education                                                                                                                         migrants
                                                                                                                                                                                                     60%
                                                                                                                                                                                                    100%     have23%higher shares of those with a Bachelor’s    26% degree
       0.25
   students, helping to explain this difference in school attendance.                                                                                                                             or 90%
                                                                                                                                                                                                       higher than non-movers.19%
                                                                                                                                                                                                     50%                                 Non-movers have        24%
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      higher
        0.1                                                                                                                                                                                                       27%
      For0.2the in-migrant population aged 25 years and older, the                                                                                                                                   40%
                                                                                                                                                                                                  percentages
                                                                                                                                                                                                     80%         of those with less than an associate’s degree than
   most0.05common educational attainment is a bachelor’s degree,                                                                                                                                     30%
                                                                                                                                                                                                     70%
                                                                                                                                                                                                  migrants.   In-migrants and out-migrants         are generally more
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  49%                  28%
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       49%
       0.15                                                                                                                                                                                          20%
                                                                                                                                                                                                     60%          23%since most people or households who        44%
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                26%
   followed0
               by some college but no degree. Most of the individuals                                                                                                                             highly  educated                                                  move to
                                                                                                                                                                                                     10%
                                                                                                                                                                                                     50%
   migrating    into Utah are highly educated, suggesting a move for                                                                                                                              another state need enough income or a prospect of good
                                           0-4
                                                 5-9
                                                        10-14
                                                                15-19
                                                                        20-24
                                                                                25-29
                                                                                        30-34
                                                                                                35-39
                                                                                                        40-44
                                                                                                                45-49
                                                                                                                         50-54
                                                                                                                                  55-59
                                                                                                                                           60-64
                                                                                                                                                    65-69
                                                                                                                                                            70-74
                                                                                                                                                                    75-79
                                                                                                                                                                            80-84
                                                                                                                                                                                    85+
        0.1
                                                                                                                                                                                                      0%
                                                                                                                                                                                                     40%
   employment or college attendance. Utah System of Higher                                                                                                                                        income to Non-Moving
                                                                                                                                                                                                               make a move. Usually,       movements in
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    In-Migrants                  the young
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Domestic
       0.05                                                                                                                                                                                          30%      Utah Residents                       28, 29, 30Out-Migrants
                  Non-Moving
   Education (USHE)       universities Domestic
                                        and Brigham Young    In-Migrants
                                                                University                                                                                                                        adult age group 49%are due to school
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               20%
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         or a job.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       49%                      44%
                                                     Utah Residents                                   Out-Migrants
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Employed               Armed Forces                       Unemployed                           Not in LF                Under 16
                                       0                                                                                                                                                                                       10%
                                           0-4
                                                 5-9
                                                        10-14
                                                                15-19
                                                                        20-24
                                                                                25-29
                                                                                        30-34
                                                                                                35-39
                                                                                                        40-44
                                                                                                                45-49
                                                                                                                         50-54
                                                                                                                                  55-59
                                                                                                                                           60-64
                                                                                                                                                    65-69
                                                                                                                                                            70-74
                                                                                                                                                                    75-79
                                                                                                                                                                            80-84
                                                                                                                                                                                    85+

Figure 15. School Grade Attending by Mobility Status, 2014–2018                                                                                                                                                                0%
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Non-Moving                                      In-Migrants                                   Domestic
                                 0.8                                                                                                                                                                                                     Utah Residents                                                                                Out-Migrants
                                                     Non-Moving                                       Domestic                                              In-Migrants
                                 0.7                 Utah Residents                                   Out-Migrants
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Employed               Armed Forces                       Unemployed                           Not in LF                Under 16
                                 0.6
 Share of Total Share of Total

                                 0.5
                                 0.8
                                 0.4
                                 0.7
                                 0.3
                                 0.6
                                 0.2
                                 0.5
                                 0.1
                                 0.4
                                   0
                                 0.3                  Not Attending                                                      Nursery/Prek                                                          k-12                                                       College Undergrad                                              Grad or Professional
                                 0.2                                                                    Non-Moving Utah Residents                                                         In-Migrants                                           Domestic Out-Migrants
                                 0.1
   Note: International out-migrants are not included in the data or analysis. Note: Estimate is shown with its 90% confidence interval. This interval represents a range of population values
   that are
          0 plausible in light of information in the sample, with a 90% degree of confidence. Reported values for groups with non-overlapping error bars are statistically different to the same
   degree of confidence.Doctorate
                      Not   Attending                       Nursery/Prek                            k-12                      College Undergrad                      Grad or Professional
   Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 5-Year American Community Survey, Integrated Public Use Microdata Series
  Prof. Degree (beyond Bach)                                                                            Non-Moving Utah Residents                                                         In-Migrants                                           Domestic Out-Migrants
                                                      Master Deg.
Figure 16. Educational
            Bach. Degree
                         Attainment (Ages 25+) by Mobility Status, 2014–2018
                                                     Doctorate
                                                 Assoc. Degree
  Prof.
    SomeDegree (beyond
          College,     Bach)
                   no degree
                                                 Master Deg.
                                             HS diploma/GED
                                                     Bach. Degree
                                                     Less than HS
                                                         None
                                                 Assoc. Degree
                         Some College, no degree 0                                                                0.05                                         0.1                             0.15                                               0.2                                   0.25                                   0.3                                    0.35
                                             HS diploma/GED                                                                                                                                                          Share of Total
                                                                                                                                             Domestic Out-Migrants                                                 In-Migrants      Non-Moving Utah Residents
                                                     Less than HS
                                                                  None
                                                                                0                                 0.05                                         0.1                             0.15                                               0.2                                   0.25                                   0.3                                    0.35
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Share of Total
                                                                                                                                             Domestic Out-Migrants                                                 In-Migrants      Non-Moving Utah Residents

   Note: International out-migrants are not included in the data or analysis. Estimate is shown with its 90% confidence interval. This interval represents a range of population values that are
   plausible in light of information in the sample, with a 90% degree of confidence. Reported values for groups with non-overlapping error bars are statistically different to the same degree
   of confidence.
   Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 5-Year American Community Survey, Integrated Public Use Microdata Series

   June 2021                                     I    gardner.utah.edu                                                                                                                    10                                                                                                  I N F O R M E D D E C I S I O N S TM
Labor force participation is similar across all groups                                                                                                            Figure 18. Marital Status (Ages 15+) by Mobility Status,
                 A little more than half of in-migrants are in the labor force                                                                                                  2014–2018
              (working or actively seeking work). The majority of those in the
              labor force are actively employed, while 4% are unemployed                                                                                                                                                                     41% Married
              and looking for work. The relatively low unemployment rate is
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             2% Widdowed
              a reflection of the strong economic conditions at the time. The
              other half are either not in the labor force (28%) or under age 16                                                                                                                                                             9% Divorced
              (19%). These figures match the overall state’s employment                                                                                                                                   In-Migrants
              patterns.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2% Separated
                 Utah’s out-migrants have a different age structure, particularly
              more children, which results in slightly different employment                                                                                                                                                                  46% Never Married
              patterns. Domestic out-migrants have approximately 5% more
              individuals under the age of 16 than in-migrants, contributing
              to a slightly smaller share of employed out-migrants. The
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             50% Married
              percentage of out-migrants not in the labor force is about the
              same as in-migrants.                                                                                                                                                                                                           3% Widdowed

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             10% Divorced
              Migrants are less likely to be married
                                                                                                                                                                                                          Domestic
                 In and out-migrants have a younger age structure than non-                                                                                                                              Out-Migrants
              movers, and this can affect marital status. Consistent with
               18,000                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3% Separated
              research findings, this data shows that those who have never
               16,000
              been married are more likely to move.31 More than half of non-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             34% Never Married
               14,000 are married, the largest percentage out of the three
              movers
              subgroups,
               12,000      with only 30% having never been married. A little
              less than
               10,000   half of in-migrants over the age of 14 have never been
              married.   Around 40% of in-migrants are currently married,                                                                                                                                                                    56% Married
                8,000
              while
                6,000
                      about  10% are either separated, divorced, or widowed.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             4% Widdowed
              About half of out-migrants (over the age of 14) are currently
                4,000
              married, and 15% are either separated, divorced, or widowed.                                                                                                                                Non-Moving
                2,000                                                                                                                                                                                    Utah Residents                      9% Divorced
              About one-third of out-migrants have never been married.
                    0
              Compared    to in-migrants, out-migrants are more likely to be or
                                 0-4

                                                                                                                             60-64
                                                                                                                                     65-69
                                                                                                                                             70-74
                                                                                                                                                     75-79
                                                                                                                                                             80-84
                                                                                                                                                                     85+
                                       5-9
                                             10-14
                                                     15-19
                                                             20-24
                                                                     25-29
                                                                             30-34
                                                                                     35-39
                                                                                             40-44
                                                                                                     45-49
                                                                                                             50-54
                                                                                                                     55-59
80-84
        85+

              have been married, while in-migrants are more likely to have                                                                                                                                                                   1% Separated

              never been married.                                                                                                                                                                                                            30% Never Married
                                                                                Female                       Male

              Figure 17. Employment Status by Mobility Status, 2014–2018
                          100%                                                                                                                                                  Note: International out-migrants are not included in the data or analysis
                                                                                                                                                                                Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 5-Year American Community Survey, Integrated Public
                               90%                                                             19%                                                                              Use Microdata Series
                                               27%                                                                                            24%
                               80%
                               70%
                                                                                               28%
              Share of Total

                               60%             23%                                                                                            26%                                 Comparing these two migrant groups to those who did not
                               50%                                                                                                                                              move   provides a comprehensive view of differences in marital
                                                                                                                                                                                    100%                                                  5.2%
                               40%                                                                                                                                              status.
                                                                                                                                                                                     90%Non-movers
                                                                                                                                                                                                 16.3%are more likely21.1%
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      to be married or have been
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         19.6%
                               30%                                                                                                                                              married
                                                                                                                                                                                     80%before, about 70% of those 15 or older, confirming the
                                               49%                                             49%                                                                                               15.1%
                               20%                                                                                                            44%                                    70%                             14.9%
                                                                                                                                                                                notion  that those who are not married     are more likely  to move.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         13.3%
                                                                                                                                                                                  Share of Total

                                                                                                                                                                                     60%         16.6%
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Share of Total

                               10%                                                                                                                                                                                   14.5%
                                                                                                                                                                                The non-mover    group has an older population, contributing to
80-84
        85+

                               0%                                                                                                                                                    50%
                                         Non-Moving                                      In-Migrants                                   Domestic                                 a higher
                                                                                                                                                                                     40% likelihood  of marriage due to corresponding life course
                                        Utah Residents                                                                                Out-Migrants                                                                                       62.0%
 nts                                                                                                                                                                            expectations
                                                                                                                                                                                     30%       and motivations.
                                                                                                                                                                                                 52.0%               49.5%
                               Employed              Armed Forces                       Unemployed                           Not in LF                Under 16                                     20%
                                                                                                                                                                                                   10%
              Note: International out-migrants are not included in the data or analysis                                                                                                             0%
              Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 5-Year American Community Survey, Integrated Public                                                                                                        In-Migrants        Domestic                Non-Moving
              Use Microdata Series                                                                                                                                                                                          Out-Migrants            Utah Residents
                                                                                                                                                                                                           Living with    Living           Single          Married
                                                                                                                                                                                                           Roommates      Alone            Parent          Couple
              INFORMED DECISIONS                                                      TM
                                                                                                                                                                           11                                                      gardner.utah.edu    I   June 2021
Less Than HS
                                    None

                                            0            0.05              0.1            0.15    0.2    0.25                              0.3            0.35            0.4

        Utah BornIn-Migrants,
                     In-Migrants
                              Born in Utah
                                           are   Less Racially Diverse and Have More Children
                                           In-Migrants, Not Born in Utah
                                                                                              Share of Total

ried
        than Remaining In-Migrants
                                                                                                                                                                                          Doctorate
           In a twelve-month period, there are approximately 35,000                                                                                                                  Figure    21. Employment Status, In-Migrant Subsets,
                                                                                                                                                                                       Prof. Degree
        in-migrants to the state who were also born in Utah, a quarter of                                                                                                            2014–2018
                                                                                                                                                                                     (beyond Bach)
                                                                                                                                                                                        Master
                                                                                                                                                                                         100% Deg.
        all in-migrants. There are a few notable differences between
                                                                                                                                                                                          90%
                                                                                                                                                                                       Bach.  Degree                                               16.3%
        these0.7 Utah-born in-migrants and the rest of the in-migrants                                                                                                                    80%
                                                                                                                                                                                                                26.4%
                                                                                                                                                                                      Assoc. Degree
        born0.6elsewhere. While the age distribution, racial and ethnic                                                                                                                   70%                                                      29.2%

                                                                                                                                                                                      Share of Total
                                                                                                                                                                                      Some College,
        composition,
             0.5         and employment status differs between these two                                                                                                                  60%
                                                                                                                                                                                          no  Degree            26.1%
            Share of Total

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          83% White, alone
             0.4                                                                                                                                                                          50%
                                                                                                                                                                                            HS/GED
        groups, schooling and educational attainment are very similar.                                                                                                                                                    14% Hispanic
                                                                                                                                                                                          40%                             2% Two + races
             0.3                                                                                                                                                                       Less Than   HS
           Utah-born in-migrants have a younger age distribution                                                                                                                          30%
                                                                                                                                                                                             In-Migrants                  0% Some other race, alone51.0%
             0.2                                                                                                                                                                          20%                   42.9%
        especially   in ages 0-14, indicating that these households have                                                                                                                    BornNone
                                                                                                                                                                                                  in Utah                 0% NH or Pac Islander, alone
ried         0.1                                                                                                                                                                          10%                             0% Asian, alone
        more0children compared to the rest of in-migrants.35 These age                                                                                                                     0%         0      0.05    0.1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1%
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             0.15
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              American
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      0.2     0.25     0.3
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Indian or Alaska
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              0.35
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Native,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       0.4
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   alone
                     Not        Nursery/        k-12       College        Grad or                                                                                                                      In-Migrants, Born in Utah ShareIn-Migrants,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        of Total    Not Born in Utah
        differences     influencePrek
                  Attending         the employmentUndergrad status differences
                                                                        Professional                                                                                                                       Employed       0%Unemployed
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Black, alone         Armed Forces
                                                                                                                                                                                                         In-Migrants, Born in Utah        In-Migrants, Not Born in Utah
        because children     underNot
                       In-Migrants, the  agein of
                                      Born        16 cannot,
                                               Utah          by Census
                                                       In-Migrants, Born in Bureau
                                                                            Utah                                                                                                                                   Not in Labor force         Under 16
        definition, be members of the labor force. They are also much                                                                                                              Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 5-Year67% White,Community
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           American  alone    Survey, Integrated
        less racially and ethnically diverse than the other in-migrants.                                                                                                           Public Use Microdata Series           18% Hispanic
        83% of the Utah born in-migrants are White alone, non-Hispanic,                                                                                                                                                             3% Two + races
                                                                                                                                                                                   FigureIn-Migrants
                                                                                                                                                                                           22. School Attending, In-Migrant Subsets,
        while the rest of in-migrants are 67% white, non-Hispanic.                                                                                                                    Not Born in Utah       0% Some other race, alone
                                                                                                                                                                                   2014–2018                                                                                                          100%
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       90%
        Figure 19. Age Distributions, In-Migrant Subset, 2014-2018                                                                                                                                  0.7                             2% NH or Pac Islander, alone
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7% Asian, alone                                                    80%
                                                                                                                                                                                                    0.6                             0% American Indian or Alaska Native, alone                         70%

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Share of Total
                             0.25                                                                                                                                                                                                   2% Black, alone
                                                                                                                                                                                                    0.5                                                                                                60%
                                                                                                                                                                                   Share of Total

                              0.2                                                                                                                                                                   0.4                                                                                                50%
        Share of Total

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       40%
                                                                                                                                                                                                    0.3
                             0.15                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      30%
                                                                                                                                                                                                    0.2                                                                                                20%
                              0.1                                                                                                                                                                   0.1                                                                                                10%
                                                                                                                                                                                                       0                                                                                                0%
                             0.05                                                                                                                                                                             Not        Nursery/         k-12        College        Grad or
                                                                                                                                                                                                           Attending        Prek                     Undergrad Professional
                               0                                                                                                                                                                                In-Migrants, Not Born in Utah     In-Migrants, Born in Utah
ing
                                    0-4
                                          5-9
                                                10-14
                                                        15-19
                                                                20-24
                                                                        25-29
                                                                                30-34
                                                                                        35-39
                                                                                                40-44
                                                                                                        45-49
                                                                                                                50-54
                                                                                                                        55-59
                                                                                                                                60-64
                                                                                                                                        65-69
                                                                                                                                                70-74
                                                                                                                                                        75-79
                                                                                                                                                                80-84
                                                                                                                                                                        85+

ents                                                                                                                                                                               Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 5-Year American Community Survey, Integrated
ried                                                                                                                                                                               Public Use Microdata Series
                                    In-Migrants, Born in Utah                                            In-Migrants, Not Born in Utah
ple
         Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 5-Year American Community Survey, Integrated                                                                                              Figure 23. Educational Attainment (Ages 25+),
         Public Use Microdata Series                                                                                                                                                Migrant Subsets, 2014–2018
        Figure 20. Race and Ethnicity, In-Migrant Subsets, 2014-2018                                                                                                                    Doctorate
                                                                                                                                                                                     Prof. Degree
                                                                                83% White, alone                                                                                   (beyond Bach)
                                                                                14% Hispanic                                                                                          Master Deg.
                                                                                2% Two + races
                                                                                                                                                                                        Bach. Degree
                               In-Migrants                                      0% Some other race, alone
                               Born in Utah                                     0% NH or Pac Islander, alone                                                                       Assoc. Degree
                                                                                0% Asian, alone                                                                                    Some College,                                                 79% White, alone
                                                                                1% American Indian or Alaska Native, alone                                                            no Degree
                                                                                0% Black, alone                                                                                          HS/GED
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 13% Hispanic
                                                                                                                                                                                         Less Than HS
                                                                                67% White, alone                                                                                                           None Domestic                         3% Two + races
                                                                                18% Hispanic                                                                                                                                                     0% Some other race, alone
                                                                                                                                                                                                               Out-Migrants
                                                                                                                                                                                                                0    0.05  0.1        0.15    0.2    0.25      0.3     0.35   0.4
                                In-Migrants
                                                                                3% Two + races
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Share 0%  NH or Pac Islander, alone
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                of Total
                              Not Born in Utah                                  0% Some other race, alone                                                                                                                                        3% Asian, alone
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   In-Migrants, Born in Utah       In-Migrants, Not Born in Utah
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           0% American Indian or Alaska
                                                                                2% NH or Pac Islander, alone                                                                        Note: Estimate is shown with its 90% confidence interval.Native,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                This interval
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       alone represents a
                                                                                7% Asian, alone                                                                                     range of population values that are plausible in light of information in the sample, with
                                                                                0% American Indian or Alaska Native, alone                                                                                                                 2% Black, alone
                                                                                                                                                                                    a 90% degree of confidence. Reported values for groups with non-overlapping error
                                                                                2% Black, alone
                                                                                                                                                                                    bars are statistically different to the same degree of confidence.
                                                                                                                                                                                    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 5-Year American Community Survey, Integrated
         Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 5-Year American Community Survey, Integrated
                                                                                                                                                                                    Public Use Microdata Series
         Public Use Microdata Series                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            100%
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 90%
       June 2021                    I     gardner.utah.edu                                                                                                                    12
                                                                                                                                                                                                    0.7
                                                                                                                                                                                                    0.6
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         I N F O R M E D D E C I S I O N S TM                    80%
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 70%
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    f Total

                                                                                                                                                                                                    0.5                                                                                          60%
                                                                                                                                                                                   tal
Migrant Household Characteristics
       Migrants need housing
         In-migrants living in housing units make up about 60,000                                  Figure 25. Household Type by Mobility Status, 2014–2018
       households, or 6% of households statewide. More than half of                                            100%                                                        5.2%
       in-migrants rent (56%), with the remaining 44% owning a                                                  90%     16.3%                  21.1%                       19.6%
       home. Domestic out-migrants have an even larger share of                                                 80%
                                                                                                                        15.1%
                                                                                                                70%                            14.9%                       13.3%
       renters, signaling they were probably renters in Utah as well;

                                                                                                   Share of Total
                                                                                                                60%     16.6%

                                                                                                                                                                                          Share of Total
       however, the destination’s housing market and conditions also                                                                           14.5%
                                                                                                                50%
       impact one’s ability to rent or own. This is dramatically different                                      40%
                                                                                                                                                                           62.0%
       than the 72% of non-mover households who own their home.                                                 30%     52.0%                  49.5%
                                                                                                                20%
       Again, age plays a factor in these numbers. People under the
                                                                                                                10%
       age of 35 are more likely to rent in Utah (48% of renter-occupied                                         0%
       householders are under 35, and only 16% of owner-occupied                                                      In-Migrants           Domestic                Non-Moving
                                                                                                                                           Out-Migrants            Utah Residents
       are under 35), and the young age distribution of in-migrants
                                                                                                                      Living with       Living            Single            Married
       means they are more likely to rent than own.32                                                                 Roommates         Alone             Parent            Couple
         This reality, coupled with the fact that out-migrants only
                                                                                                   Note: International out-migrants are not included in the data or analysis
       make up 41,000 households, indicates there will be increasing                               Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 5-Year American Community Survey, Integrated Public
       housing demand for both renters and owners if these migration                               Use Microdata Series

       patterns persist. If Utah continues to struggle to keep up with
       housing demands and housing affordability, that could affect                                Migrants have more non-family households than the rest
       Utah’s ability to attract out-of-state workers in the future.33                             of Utah
                                                                                                      Within these households, there is a variety of different
        Figure 24. Housing Tenure by Mobility Status, 2014–2018                                    household types, and the distribution of these types are quite
                                                                                                   similar between out-migrants and in-migrants. A little over half
                  56%                           64%                           28%                  of in-migrant households are married-couple households, and
                                                                                                   a third are non-family households (meaning that they are
                                           Domestic                     Non-Moving                 neither married nor with children in their home). About half of
              In-Migrants
                                          Out-Migrants                     Utah
                                                                         Residents                 out-migrant households are married couples, with an additional
ed
                                                                                                   15% as single parents. The remaining 35% are non-family
                  44%                           36%                           72%
                                                                                                   households. However, non-moving Utah residents have a much
                                       Renter          Owner                                       larger share of married couple households. This pattern closely
                                                                                                   mirrors household data and trends for the overall state.34
       Note: International out-migrants are not included in the data or analysis
       Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 5-Year American Community Survey, Integrated Public           This data set does not include housing unit analysis of those
       Use Microdata Series
                                                                                                   living in group quarters, such as college dormitories, prisons,
                                                                                                   and nursing homes.

ed

ed

     I N F O R M E D D E C I S I O N S TM                                                     13                                               gardner.utah.edu        I   June 2021
Discussion and Conclusion
   Previous research indicates that, since 1950, Utah has                   Additionally, only one-third of out-migrants were born in
consistently had net in-migration of young adults between                Utah, meaning two-thirds of the out-migrants were born
ages 20 and 29, while net migration in the other age groups is           somewhere else, moved to Utah, and then left again. A gap in
much lower.36 This research goes a step further by identifying           this data is the absence of those moving from Utah to an
the basic demographic characteristics of recent in and out-              overseas location. Examination of changes in stocks of the
migrants.                                                                foreign-born population in Utah over time can partially shed
   Utah’s in-migrants are younger, more racially/ethnically              light on these flows. Other methods estimating net migration
diverse, and have higher educational attainment than those               can potentially address this data gap as well.
already living in Utah. Utah’s overall median age is 30.7 years,            Recent in-migrants, having moved within the last year and
but median age varies by mobility status. Domestic out-                  measured from 2014 to 2018, make up 60,000 households, with
migrants have a median age of 27 years. In-migrants have a               more than half renting and 44% owning a home. This does not
median age of 25 years, and non-moving Utah residents have a             account for group quarters populations. While there is bound
median age of 31. The non-moving Utahns’ slightly higher                 to be an exchange of households from out-migrants leaving,
median age indicates that if in-migrants were removed from               there are still more in-migrants than out-migrants, which might
the Utah population, the median age of 30.7 years would                  exacerbate Utah’s housing shortage. This issue compounded
increase to 31 years.                                                    this year as Utah continued to attract in-migrants, yet fewer
   The age discrepancy between migrants and the general Utah             houses were on the market due to COVID-19 induced
population drives much of the differences we see in race/                uncertainty.39
ethnicity, marital status, educational attainment, and labor                Migration adds an unpredictable and sometimes volatile
force participation. Not only is Utah less diverse than other            dynamic to Utah’s population and growth and has a lasting
states who are sending in-migrants, but recent racial/ethnic             impact on the state’s demographics. Utah was the fastest-
projections for Utah point out that racial/ethnic minorities             growing state in the nation over the last decade. In strict
typically have higher fertility rates, contributing to the more          accounting terms, between 2010 and 2020, a
diverse young population within Utah and across the country.37              third of population growth was due to net in-migration.
These recent migration patterns are consistent with and a                Because in-migrants tend to be young, in peak childbearing
continuation of migration patterns that became well-                     ages, they also contribute to natural increase as they establish
established in Utah in the 1990s.38 Migration propensities,              families and have native-born Utah children.
motives, and patterns differ over a person’s lifetime and                    As fertility rates decline in the U.S. and Utah, it is reasonable
generation. Younger people, particularly younger than 25, will           to assume that if regional and state growth continues at high
prioritize different aspects of life than those who are older and        levels, growth will become more reliably fueled by the
more established.                                                        movement of people and less from natural increase.
   The data indicate that only 4% of Utahns moved from out of               Migration will continue to fluctuate based on local and
state or country in the last year. That may sound small, but that        national conditions, and the demographic characteristics of
equals roughly 130,000 people. About a quarter of in-migrants            migrants will shift in the future. However, Utah’s demographics
were born in Utah and returned after a previous move. However,           will undoubtedly continue to change and evolve as migrants
if we look at the bigger picture, almost 40% of those currently          from all over the country and world leave their imprint on the
living in Utah were not born in Utah, indicating a sustained,            state.
longer term trend of in-migration.

June 2021   I   gardner.utah.edu                                    14                                     I N F O R M E D D E C I S I O N S TM
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