LANSING, Mich., April 2 (UPI) -- Michigan, its manufacturing economy shredded, is losing population at a record rate, with most of those departing young and well-educated.
Last year, the state lost 109,000 more people than it gained, The Detroit News reported Thursday.
"I grew up here," said Joe LaCross, as he packed a moving van to head for Florida. "My family is here. My wife's family is here. I love everything about Michigan -- everything except the economy."
The News used combined figures from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Internal Revenue Service to get information on migration in and out of the state. It found that between 2001 and 2007 the number of departures rose 25 percent and the number of arrivals dropped by more than 30 percent.
While 39 percent of those who moved out have a four-year college degree, only 25 percent of those who remain behind do.
Dave Stefanic told the News that after he lost his job as an engineer at Ford all the job offers he got were from out of state. Four months after the layoff, he put his house on the market.
