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25% of Greater Boston’s young people plan to leave in next 5 years, new survey finds

“Our young residents are not only the future of the workforce, but also our current leaders and champions of our small businesses, downtowns, and workplaces.”

March 12, 2024

2 minutes to read

An “alarming” number of young people in Greater Boston say they plan to leave the area in the next five years, according to a new report.

The survey, released Monday by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Foundation, polled 823 young adults between the ages of 20 and 30 living in Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Suffolk counties in November and December. Twenty-five percent of those surveyed said they are planning to leave Greater Boston in the next five years, even while 89% said they are satisfied with their day-to-day lives in the region.

“Our young residents are not only the future of the workforce, but also our current leaders and champions of our small businesses, downtowns, and workplaces,” James E. Rooney, president of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Foundation, said in a statement. “It is incumbent upon us to elevate the voices of young residents who are contributing to our local vibrancy and civic fabric while navigating significant hurdles.”

Massachusetts continues to be one of the most moved from states.

“Beginning in 2020 with the shift to remote and hybrid office policies, the mobility of the workforce increased, and we are seeing residents, especially young residents, move away from Massachusetts to more affordable regions,” the Chamber Foundation said.

According to the organization’s survey, there were differences among those who were reporting their likelihood to leave. Black women and LGBTQ individuals reported that they were more likely to leave Greater Boston (35% and 31%, respectively), while 76% of millennial women and 77% of Asian American Pacific Islanders said they planned to stay.

The Chamber Foundation found that job availability, the cost of rent, and the ability to buy a home ranked as the top issues young residents said they are facing as they choose where to build a life and a career. When asked what the most urgent issues for local leaders should be, 66% said housing that is affordable should be prioritized, 39% said the availability of quality jobs should be prioritized, and 35% said financial compensation and wages should be prioritized.

Those issues “must be at the top of mind for public officials and the business community” to ensure young people want, and choose, to stay in Greater Boston,” the Chamber Foundation said.