Sangamon Sun

Illinois experienced the largest population loss in the nation during a recent 12-month period, according to a recent U.S. Census report.

The federal report revealed that between July 2015 and July of this year, 114,144 residents moved out of the Prairie State. When newcomers are factored in, the state lost 37,508 residents, or the size of a small town.

Illinois Policy Institute Vice President Michael Lucci put the numbers into a more concrete perspective.

“Picture the entire city of Peoria packing up and moving across state lines – that’s how severe Illinois’ out-migration was over the last year,” Lucci said, referring to the total, raw number of residents who left. “People are leaving Illinois at record rates.”

Moreover, for the third consecutive year, Illinois is the only state in the Midwest to experience a population decline.

Illinois Policy Institute economists who have focused on the state’s migration patterns for the past five years said most exiles cite lower tax rates and better employment prospects as their top reasons for leaving.

“They’re tired of watching the state’s pension debt climb as lawmakers ignore the problem,” Lucci, referring to large numbers of Illinois residents making the decision to live elsewhere, said. “They’re tired of an expensive workers’ compensation system and a dangerously ill economic climate.”

Researchers also found that outgoing residents took with them not only their belongings, but also their earning power. Data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) said Illinois is losing $32,000 in taxable income every five minutes under the current exodus levels.

Darkening the circumstances further, the U.S. Census Bureau said most states, in contrast, are gaining residents.

Analysts said the reasons behind individual states experiencing outmigration vary, with factors depending largely on each state’s circumstances. In some cases, the state’s economy is weak, while in others, an unrelated demographic trend may be responsible — such as a population that is aging without being replaced by an influx of younger residents.

To that end, earlier this year, University of Illinois economist Fred Giertz suggested that older residents in the Land of Lincoln are simply opting to retire and move to warmer regions of the country. Additionally, Giertz said much of Illinois’ economy depends on manufacturing and agriculture — sectors that are not currently generating substantial job growth lately.

“Chicago has fairly good prospects,” Giertz said. “Downstate Illinois is more like the rest of the Midwest and is declining.”

This trend has been going on for a while. The state has been experiencing annual net losses of tens of thousands of residents for the past five years. The state lost 38,817 in 2010-11, 45,285 in 2011-12, 36,462 in 2012-13, 59,600 in 2013-14 and 67,535 in 2014-15.

“It’s time for lawmakers to make massive reforms and send a strong signal that the direction of Illinois is changing,” Lucci said.