Brain Gain Overview

Most Erie County parents know our children continue to leave us. Our region’s average age continues to increase. The gap between the educational attainment levels of Erie County residents compared to Pennsylvania and State averages continues to grow. Graduates of our local colleges and universities leave us. Perhaps most tragically, our children who have found success elsewhere, and who now want to move back home, often can’t find good local opportunities.

Richard Florida, in his landmark book The Creative Class demonstrates how a community’s economic vitality directly correlates to the educational attainment levels of its residents. Erie needs to keep more of our “best and brightest” here. Residents who want to better themselves need increased access to post-secondary education and training opportunities. Those who have found success elsewhere need increased encouragement to return to their home community. This point is illustrated by the below migration map produced by Forbes. For more details about the number of people migrating in and out of Erie County, click on the map.

Where American's are Moving—Migration Map

Click on the map to to see comings and goings: black lines indicate net inward movement, red lines net outward movement.

What works?

Erie needs to focus its resources on projects that work. Visit this area of Vital Signs to learn more about evidenced-based projects with a proven ability to positively impact trends identified.

Inspired Action

There are many success stories in our region. Visit this area of Vital Signs to learn more about great projects in our community that are positively impacting trends identified. Erie people know how to help one another. We have a strong history of philanthropy and volunteerism. When we focus on the common good, there is no limit to our ability to achieve.