June 25, 2008

United Van Lines report shows state in migration holding pattern

 

Alek Blankenau
Platte Institute

Most Midwesterners, including Nebraskans, would love to promote their state as a popular migratory spot for interstate movers in the United States.  Having people want to move to your state is a testament to the great opportunities and incentives your state provides.  But are Midwest states actually doing a good job in attracting these movers? 

United Van Lines, the nation’s largest household goods mover, has tracked shipment patterns annually on a state-by-state basis since 1977, creating studies which examine nationwide migration.  These studies can shed light on the current migratory patterns in Nebraska and our surrounding states.  In the studies, United Van Lines classifies the states as being high inbound, high outbound or balanced.  High inbound means that 55% or more of the moves associated with the state are going into the state, and high outbound means 55% or more of those moves are going out of the state.  Balanced indicates that the state is between these two distinctions. 

Interestingly, Nebraska has been classified as balanced since 2002.  But there have been some fluctuations within this balanced range.  For example, Nebraska jumped from 50.7% outbound to 52.5% inbound from 2005 to 2006 and from 51.1% outbound in 2002 to 50.3% inbound in 2003.  Before 2003, Nebraska had been outbound for the previous five years.  So Nebraska has clearly made some strides in this decade, although not gigantic, towards making the state more attractive to other United States residents. 

By examining Nebraska’s border neighbors, we can gain more perspective on how Nebraska fits in with the rest of the Midwest.  In 2004 and 2005, South Dakota was listed as balanced, but exploded in 2006 and 2007, being classified as high inbound both years.  Wyoming has also enjoyed some of this success, being classified as balanced in 2002 and 2004 through 2006, and high inbound in 2007.  Colorado has also done well in attracting movers.  They were classified as balanced from 2001 to 2007 but had inbound percentages in every year but 2002, which was their first year of outbound migration since 1990. 

Iowa has also excelled, being classified as balanced in 2001 and 2005 through 2007, as well as being high inbound in 2004.  On the flip side, Kansas is not doing as well.  After being high outbound in 2002 they have been balanced every year since, but usually still with outbound percentages.  In fact, United Van Lines noted in their 2003 study that Kansas had been outbound since the inception of the study.  Missouri has done even worse, being classified as balanced, but having outbound percentages in every year of the study except 1994.

So, Nebraska is in the middle of the pack when compared with its neighbors, proving that more can be done in the state in order to attract potential residents.  Although Nebraska has made some strides this decade, according to the United Van Lines reports, there is still work to be done.  Nebraska and its people should continue to strive to lead the pack through economic growth utilizing free enterprise, which will allow our state to thrive.