The Young and the Restless

"The Young and the Restless: How Tampa Bay Competes for Talent," is a new study commissioned by several Tampa Bay economic development groups. The study tracked and analyzed the demographic trends of young, high-skill professionals who are viewed by an increasing number of local economic development officials as the gatekeepers to the future viability of America's cities. The study also sought to identify ways Tampa Bay could better compete for this age demographic.

Unfortunately, the results for Tampa Bay region weren't anything to get in a hootenanny over. The study found Tampa Bay's share of the 25- to 34-yearold population is much smaller than most other large Metropolitan Statistical Areas, or MSAs, ranking 47th out of the 50 biggest.

Competing metro areas such as Atlanta and North Carolina's Triangle (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) increased their 25- to 34-year-old population by 20 percent, and the Charlotte, N.C., region improved by 17 percent.

The top three destinations that Tampa Bay's young and restless were fleeing to were Orlando, Atlanta and Miami.

The Lakeland-Winter Haven MSA fared better than Tampa, losing only 3.3 percent of its 25to 34-year-old population between 1990 and 2000.

More here.