Youth

What Does This Measure?

The rate of youth out-migration is determined by measuring the proportion of youth from one census period who were absent in subsequent censuses. There are three cohorts included on this page: aged 15-19 years in 2011, aged 20-29 years in 2011, and aged 15-29 years in 2011. The number of people in each cohort in 2011 are compared with the number of people in the cohort in 2016. This total is then divided by the total number of people in the cohort in 2011.  This provides the percentage change in the number of people in that age cohort from 2011 to 2016. If the result of the calculation is negative, it is the rate of youth out-migration and if the result is positive, it is the rate of youth in-migration.

Why is this important?

Young people, especially in rural areas, often leave their home area for job opportunities and post-secondary education. In a study done in a neighbouring region of North Eastern Ontario, the desire to live an exciting life in an area that had a lot more social activities and life opportunities was what young people were looking towards for their future. Out-migration of youth from rural areas persists as one of the most serious threats to the sustainability of rural communities.

How is Hastings and Prince Edward Counties doing?

In 2016, there was a decrease of 6% in the Hastings and Prince Edward Counties population that was aged 15 and 29 years in 2011. The out-migration was even greater in the cohort of individuals aged 15 to 19 years in 2011 with an out-migration of 15%. In comparison, the 20 to 29 year old cohort only decreased by 0.3%. Ontario overall experienced a youth in-migration in all cohorts.