This is the second in a three-part series on the aging of upstate New York. The series will continue Wednesday with stories on declining school enrollments in this region, and on aging in Niagara County.
An age gain combined with a brain drain is dramatically changing the face of upstate New York.
As the population ages, there is a corresponding exodus of talented young people, according to State University College of Technology at Delhi President Candace Vancko.
Vancko said one report indicated that between the years of 1995 and 2000, the upstate region experienced a loss of 110,000 college graduates to other states. These departures are accelerating even though statistics indicate that students often remain in the state where they attended college.
Richard Dietz, Federal Reserve Bank of New York senior economist, said the population of New York is not growing, which results in a greater concentration of senior citizens.
When manufacturing declined in the upstate area during the 1900s, the population dwindled as people moved from the area seeking opportunities elsewhere.
Dietz said the challenge faced by upstate communities is figuring out how to attract people back.
The aging population and new technology have shifted the type of employment opportunities in the area.
"It's a pretty safe bet that the demand for health care workers is going to increase nationwide, but how are we going to fare in competition with the rest of the country?" Dietz asked.
Vancko said a recent report issued by state Department of Labor cited significant employment opportunities in the Southern Tier region in the following areas:
ä The information technology field will have a 30 percent increase between 2004 and 2014 in demand for network systems analysts, software engineers, telecommunications technicians and computer hardware engineers. Starting salaries would range from $30,000 to $65,000.
ä The health care field will show a 15 to 20 percent increase in demand for nurses, physician's assistants, physical therapy assistants, medical and clinical lab technicians, medical and health services managers, and sonographers. Entry-level salaries will be in the $30,000-to-$40,000 range.
ä In business, advertising and promotion managers, public relations specialists, accountants and auditors will have a 10 to 30 percent growth with average entry-level salaries in the $30,000 range.
ä The hospitality profession expects the demand for lodging managers and meeting and convention planners to increase by 15 percent, with average entry salaries of $32,000.
ä Engineers of all type are needed, with an anticipated increase of 22 percent with entry salaries in the $50,000 range.
Dietz said measuring human capital is a means of defining the amount of education in a particular area. A high level of human capital can cause growth in population and productivity.
The level of education of upstate New York residents is below the U.S. average, which contrasts highly with the fact that New York is well above average at producing education, indicating that young people tend to attain their degrees in the region and then leave for other destinations, Dietz said.
SUNY Delhi's Lou Shields, career services director, and Joel Smith, director of college advancement, agreed that whether local students stay in the area depends on their personal interests, family connections and academic major.
Smith said a majority of SUNY Delhi's nursing students stay in the area because of the tremendous job opportunities.
"We have also worked previously with the Rural Healthcare Alliance on a marketing program to promote health care opportunities in the area. Stay Close ... Go Far' was the theme," Smith said.
"Our career and counseling center does solicit job openings from local employers," Smith added. "It also sponsors a Job and Career Fair that involves the Delaware County Employment and Training Office, CDO Workforce, New York State Department of Labor and Delaware, Otsego and Chenango County Counselor's Associations.
"The college is committed to promoting job opportunities in the region," Smith continued. "SUNY Delhi was named business advocate of the year recently by the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce in recognition of our efforts."
