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Aging,
centralized population the future for Indiana
Monroe County projected to grow by 5.7 percent by 2005
By
Jordan Seeder
The
Indiana Digital Student,
July 21, 2003
Between the years 2000 and 2005,
Monroe County is projected to add 6,899 people to its population, which is
an increase of 5.7 percent. Monroe County is projected to be one of the
fastest-growing counties in the state of Indiana over the next five years,
and the population for the state of Indiana also is expected to increase
steadily over the next 40 years. By the year 2030, the population of
Indiana will top 7 million.
Every 10 years since 1790, the U.S. government has taken a census of the
nation's population. The most recent census was taken in 2000. The state
of Indiana, with the help of the Indiana Business Research Center, used
the information from this census to make the population projections.
There is a disturbing trend evident in the projections concerning the
future population of Indiana. Over the next 20 years, Indiana's population
-- in the age range of 25-54 years -- is expected to decrease
dramatically. This is the age group that is most active in the work force
and is most responsible for generating capital.
"A drop in the number of workers in this age range would almost
certainly reduce the workforce available to produce goods and services
that drive the state's economy," IBRC demographer John Besl said.
With a possible shortage of younger workers in the future, it might be
necessary for the older population -- age 50-64 -- to stay more productive
in the workplace.
Morton J. Marcus, executive director of the IBRC, said he believes
education is the key to avoiding further economic recession and
unemployment in the future. He said unemployment is caused by an inability
to transition to new jobs, and it is important for today's youth to learn
skills they can use in the workplace of the future.
Monroe County will not suffer from these problems as much as other
counties. In fact, the county is one of the few counties outside of
Indianapolis that will gain population in the 25-54 year old age group
during the next 20 years.
By the year 2020, Monroe County will be one of only three counties with a
median age under 30 years old. This is due in large part to the student
population on the IU-Bloomington campus.
While the number of people in the 25-54 age group is dropping, the
population of Hoosiers age 65 and older will be increasing greatly. From
2000 to 2040, the number of people 65 and older is expected to nearly
double, from 753,000 to 1.48 million. With a senior population so large,
issues such as social security benefits and senior housing could become
very important in the next 20 years.
The report also found Indiana's population is becoming more consolidated.
One-third of the state's growth over the next 40 years will come primarily
from the Indianapolis county of Marion and its suburb, Hamilton County.
This trend of consolidation could lead to a lack of economic resources in
the more rural Indiana counties and overcrowding in the more urban ones.
How these projections will affect development in Bloomington and Monroe
County is still unclear. IU and all of Monroe County is growing. With this
growth, more developments and expansion -- such as the ongoing work in
downtown Bloomington -- might be coming.
For county by county population projections through the year 2040, visit www.stats.indiana.edu/pop_proj/.
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