Young people are moving out of rural Arizona. Local First Arizona is asking: What can help them stay?

(May 19, 2023) — Young people between the ages of 16 and 24 from rural Arizona are wanted to give feedback about jobs, housing, educational and recreational opportunities in their communities and why they have stayed or moved away.

Small towns and cities are facing a similar challenge: Young people are moving to larger cities, causing local jobs to remain vacant and threatening the long-term viability of communities.

The survey will ask young Arizonans what they love about the rural places where they grew up and how towns can support them to stay. What do they need and want in terms of careers, education, housing and recreation to continue to call rural communities home

The survey of rural youth and young professionals is being conducted by the nonprofit economic-development organization Local First Arizona in collaboration with the Partnership for Workforce Innovation.

“As Arizona’s Rural Development Council, Local First Arizona is working closely with rural, tribal and business leaders to meet the needs of workers and employers across the state,” said Kate Stuart, Local First Arizona senior programs manager for rural development. “We are seeing critical challenges to recruiting employees in rural areas, even when businesses waive just about all qualifications and provide on-the-job training, and to retaining the young workers they do hire.”

“This survey will provide important feedback for local leaders so they can better serve young singles and families as they develop industries, housing developments, training programs and community activities in rural Arizona,” Stuart added.

Local First welcomes responses to the online survey from young people in rural communities anywhere in Arizona, but is focusing specifically on eight communities:

• Bylas

• Holbrook

• Globe

• Hayden

• Kingman

• Miami

• Superior

• Winkelman

These communities represent a spectrum of success and complexity in growing their younger demographics. Responses from residents in these areas will provide valuable insights to other cities and towns looking for answers.

For example:

• Bylas, a town on the San Carlos Apache Reservation in Graham County, has lost nearly 30% of its working-age population over a decade. The 19-64 age group has shrunk from 1,075 to 761, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. Few residents work in the town, with 80% commuting 25 to 131 miles away to jobs as far as Phoenix, according to a study by the Partnership for Workforce Innovation.

• Duncan, the ranching community in Greenlee County where former U.S. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor grew up, actually has grown its working-age population by 51% over a decade. The 19-64 age group has risen from 286 to 430, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. But only 14% of Duncan’s residents work in the town, with 75% commuting 25 to 205 miles away to jobs as far as Phoenix, according to a study by the Partnership for Workforce Innovation. Duncan could offer valuable lessons for other rural communities on how to grow the younger population.

• Hayden, the historic mining town located in Pinal and Gila counties whose surrounding wilderness boasts prime rock climbing, has lost nearly half its working-age population over a decade. The 19-64 age group has shrunk from 575 to 296 over that time, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. Seven percent of Hayden’s residents work in the town, with 80% commuting 25 to 95 miles away to jobs as far as Phoenix, according to a study by the Partnership for Workforce Innovation.

• Kingman in Mohave County, which has invested in an industrial park, tourism, transportation and an entrepreneurship partnership with the Hualapai Tribal Nation, actually has gained 10% population over a decade, though most new residents are retirement age. The working-age population (19-64 years old) has increased only 2% from 16,618 to 16,982, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. A high share of residents (42%) work in the city compared to other rural areas, but 40% still commute 25 to 196 miles away to jobs as far as Phoenix, according to a study by the Partnership for Workforce Innovation. Kingman could offer valuable lessons for other rural communities on how to grow the younger population and keep residents employed locally.

The youth exodus is a phenomenon that many rural areas in the country have been grappling with. Census data show that deaths outnumbered births in eight out of 15 Arizona counties and more than 50% of U.S. counties in 2020, which can indicate fewer younger workers available to replace retiring Baby Boomers. This can impact job growth and the sustainability of essential services such as healthcare and education.

“Young people are essential to sustaining vibrant local economies in rural Arizona,” Stuart continued. “They are the future civic leaders and champions that every community needs for long-term success to create great places to live, build businesses, grow careers, raise families and enjoy a high quality of life.” 

Local First Arizona will debut the findings of the research with rural and tribal leaders at the 16th Annual Rural Policy Forum in Miami in Gila County on Aug. 3-4 and share it with rural communities over the coming months. 

Young people can take the online survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/6NVVBP9, scan the QR code below with their phone, or contact Kate Stuart at kate.stuart@localfirstaz.com to schedule an interview or learn more. 

About Local First Arizona

Founded in 2003, Local First Arizona is a community and economic development organization working to strengthen local economies. Local First’s areas of focus include developing entrepreneurship, rural and urban community development, racial equity, environmental action and food access.  Local First is the largest local business coalition in the U.S. and advocates for independently owned businesses of all sizes by assisting local owners with technical assistance designed to help them compete and collaborate, which ultimately strengthens Arizona's economy and builds hometown pride. Visit www.localfirstaz.com for more information and a directory of more than 3,000 locally-owned businesses.

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