Why are people flocking from Florida in record numbers?

Young people moving out of Florida

Florida has the third-highest population in the country, but a new study shows that a lot of young people are moving out of the Sunshine State. Kailey Tracy reports.

TAMPA, Fla. - Florida has been one of the fastest-growing states. More than 22 million people live here, but a record number of people left the state in 2023.

According to the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s latest migration report, more than half a million people left the state last year, the most Florida has ever seen. It was the second-most in the country in 2023, behind California. The average age of people leaving Florida is 32.

The report says the "perception of limited career opportunities for younger, early-career workers" and rising housing costs are the two key factors leading to younger people leaving the state.

Residents left Florida for states like Tennessee and North Carolina, which offer more affordable living options, the report said.

While a record number of people left Florida last year, the report says nearly 637,000 people moved to the state from across the country. People 60 and older were the biggest age group moving here.

People of all ages also have recently packed up and moved out of the Sunshine State after back-to-back storms this year.

There was a net total of about 126,000 people who moved to Florida from other states in 2023, the report says. Florida Chamber of Commerce officials say it shows Florida is a top destination for new residents. It also is, however, about a 50 percent decrease from the previous year, and is the first major decline in net migration in a decade.

Chamber officials say while the report "highlights Florida’s status as a national leader in net income migration," it also underscores the "pressing challenges that could impact the state’s long-term growth and economic stability."

According to the latest numbers, Florida led the nation with a net income migration of almost $36.1 billion annually. Chamber officials wrote in a press release that the migration trends emphasize the need to understand who is leaving, why and what can be done to retain Florida’s workforce.

According to "U.S. News and World Report," the Chamber said, Florida ranks top in the nation for higher education and first in four-year college affordability. The state, however, struggles to keep its graduates. The Florida Chamber Foundation’s Future of Work Florida initiative aims to strengthen the state’s talent pipeline by bridging the gap between education and workforce options.

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"Businesses must play an increasingly active role in developing and retaining Florida’s talent pipeline," Mark Wilson, President of the Florida Chamber of Commerce & Foundation, said. "When Floridians see a pathway forward to a flourishing career in our state, outmigration will slow. But job opportunities alone aren’t enough—affordable housing is certainly important. If our younger workforce can’t afford to live here, they will start looking elsewhere."

The Florida Chamber has supported initiatives like the Live Local Act, which aims to expand affordable housing options, to address the rising housing costs.

"Florida is at a crossroads," the report concludes. "Now is the time to reinforce Florida’s brand as the best place to live, work, raise a family, and build a future and learn."

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