News Updates

Chicago region gains high earners but loses population overall as outmigration increases and immigration stagnates

Population growth is both a strong indicator and a driver of economic performance, whereas population loss can point to insufficient economic opportunity or quality of life. Residents often move for employment, but also because of family connections, life stage, or changing lifestyle preferences. Slowing population growth then inhibits economic growth as the region becomes increasingly unable to capitalize on the benefits of a well-trained and innovative workforce.

This policy update analyzes data just released from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Population and Housing Unit Estimates. As prior CMAP analyses have illustrated, the Chicago metropolitan statistical area (MSA) continues to experience stagnant changes in population, with earlier years of small population increases followed by more recent small population declines. Overall, population in the Chicago MSA continues to experience minimal decline enveloped in a longer-term trend of stagnation. While recent declines are largely attributable to increased domestic population loss, declining birth rates, and stagnation in international immigration, they speak to broader issues with economic opportunity and quality of life.