Small towns across Arizona are facing a similar challenge: Young people are moving to larger cities, causing local jobs to remain vacant and the economic health of communities to struggle.
For instance, Hayden, a historic mining town about 90 miles southeast of Phoenix whose nearby wilderness has become a rock-climbing destination, has lost nearly half its working-age population (19-64 years old) over a decade, according to the U.S. Census. And the vast majority of Hayden residents commute as far as 90 minutes away, according to a study by the Partnership for Workforce Innovation.
Hayden is not alone. The youth exodus is a phenomenon rural areas everywhere in the country have been grappling with.
In fact, Census data shows that deaths outnumbered births in eight Arizona counties in 2022, indicating barriers to attracting and retaining younger residents, which can negatively impact economic growth and the sustainability of essential infrastructure, like healthcare and education.
We want to know: What do young Arizonans need to stay in the rural places where they grew up?
Leaders in these communities often want guidance on how to reverse the trend.
So starting in April, Local First Arizona is going straight to the source to ask young Arizonans what they love about the rural places they grew up in and how small towns can support them to stay.
Local First plans to gather input from youth and young professionals between the ages of 16 and 24 about their local educational and career opportunities in eight communities:
Bylas
Holbrook
Globe
Hayden
Kingman
Miami
Superior
Winkelman
Responses will be collected through in-person interviews and an online survey in collaboration with the Partnership for Workforce Innovation.
What you can do to help
Youth and young professionals are essential to meeting the workforce needs and economic development goals of rural Arizona and ensuring the long-term viability of local communities.
Give your input and help us reach other young people: Take the online survey, share, or contact Kate Stuart at kate.stuart@localfirstaz.com to schedule an interview or to learn more. While we’re primarily targeting the communities listed above, we welcome responses from rural communities across the state.