Study Finds Alabama Among States Experiencing Significant 'Brain Drain'

{TheChronicle.cc} –A recent study by Hire A Helper has identified Alabama as one of the states grappling with significant brain drain.

This phenomenon, as defined in a 2019 Congressional report, refers to the migration of individuals in the top third of the national education distribution, aged between 31 and 40, from their birth state to another.

In 2023, Alabama experienced a net loss of well-educated residents, with 45% more individuals leaving the state compared to those moving in.

The study, drawing upon data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey and Annual Social and Economic Supplements, focused on individuals who had attained at least an undergraduate or Bachelor's degree.

Among the top 10 states with the most severe brain drain in 2023, Alabama ranked alongside others such as South Dakota, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Notably, a majority of these states traditionally lean Republican politically.

Conversely, states like Washington, South Carolina, and Nevada saw significant increases in their college-educated populations in the same year, with Washington experiencing a remarkable 169% net gain.

According to the study, job opportunities emerged as the primary driver for the relocation of college-educated individuals, accounting for 73% of such moves in 2023.

Other factors cited included personal relationships and homeownership, while cost of housing appeared to be less influential among this demographic compared to non-college-educated residents.