Changes in Demographics: America is getting older

[davideduardo]

This linked article shows how ages are changing in every state. It includes data by race and ethnicity, too. Of course, this affects radio as Nielsen samples in proportion to population cells.

New Population Estimates Highlight Increase in National Median Age

The nation’s median age increased by 0.2 years to 38.9 years between 2021 and 2022, according to Vintage 2022 Population Estimates released...

mediaconfidential.blogspot.com

One quote; “As the nation’s median age creeps closer to 40, you can really see how the aging of baby boomers, and now their children — sometimes called echo boomers — is impacting the median age. The eldest of the echo boomers have started to reach or exceed the nation’s median age of 38.9,” said Kristie Wilder, a demographer in the Census Bureau’s Population Division."

(No paywall)

 

[Mediafrog+]

Related story here in Texas: Texas is now a majority minority state

 

[CTListener]

The dominant religion in Utah, of course, vigorously encourages procreation, so that state is understandably the nation's kindergarten.

 

[boombox4]

The dominant religion in Utah, of course, vigorously encourages procreation, so that state is understandably the nation's kindergarten.

While there is some truth to your assessment of Mormonism and its influence in Utah, the state is growing economically and many people are moving there because of it. 60% of the increase in Utah's population in 2022, for example, was migration from other states. The tech industry has added jobs there, and that has influenced the economic growth that attracts people to live there. Mormons generally have one more child per family than the rest of Americans. While that is statistically significant, that's not the only factor determining the median age in Utah.

 

[boombox4]

Another interesting factor to consider is that although the Millennials outnumbered the GenXers, and GenZers are only slightly less numerous as the Millennials, there is a projected GenZ / Gen Y demographic dip of 10-15% because GenXers and older Millennials didn't have a ton of kids after 2008. Looking at demographic info, the projection after that seems to look even worse.

U.S. population by generation 2024| Statista

After surpassing Baby Boomers as the largest generation group, Millennials now make up a major part of the U.S. population, although Gen Z is catching up fast.

www.statista.com

A lot of colleges (mostly private, non-profit colleges so far) are already closing because of this demographic crunch. Although we've had a ton of immigration over the past two years, with uncounted numbers coming over the border, the fact that many of them are undocumented won't make up for the demographic drop that's projected to hit colleges in two years, and will probably also hit the rest of the economy as well. The people themselves will count, of course, but it will take time for them to work their way into the economy, and the education system.

How all of this affects radio, of course, is a good question. As for the demographic drop, will that even matter?

 

[davideduardo]

A lot of colleges (mostly private, non-profit colleges so far) are already closing because of this demographic crunch. Although we've had a ton of immigration over the past two years, with uncounted numbers coming over the border, the fact that many of them are undocumented won't make up for the demographic drop that's projected to hit colleges in two years, and will probably also hit the rest of the economy as well. The people themselves will count, of course, but it will take time for them to work their way into the economy, and the education system.

Very true. The first generation of non-English speaking immigrants spends its life working to achieve something for their family to build on. Few become proficient enough in English to go to college.

In fact, the average education of immigrants from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico is 6th grade for men and less than that (no primary school "diploma") for women. Their ability to read and write is basic, and the subjects taht teach logic and discipline, like science and math, are at best very basic.

What we have with the millions that have come across the southern border in the last two and a half years is going to fill the vacancies in agriculture, food processing, basic services like hotel staff and city /private maintenance. It will be two generations before the children are in homes where the environment stimulates higher education. In the meantime, Tyson and Motel 6 have low wage staff that is complacent and afraid of deportation or anything governmental.

 

[Kelly A]

What we have with the millions that have come across the southern border in the last two and a half years is going to fill the vacancies in agriculture, food processing, basic services like hotel staff and city /private maintenance. It will be two generations before the children are in homes where the environment stimulates higher education. In the meantime, Tyson and Motel 6 have low wage staff that is complacent and afraid of deportation or anything governmental.

Saw just today that Florida has proposed random unannounced inspections of businesses to identify undocumented workers. Of course they'll be targeting service industries like hotel, landscaping, and restaurants.
The irony, is the politicians proposing this, are probably also the ones who like paying less to have their landscaping maintained, or hotel room cleaned daily.

 

[Mediafrog+]

The irony, is the politicians proposing this, are probably also the ones who like paying less to have their landscaping maintained, or hotel room cleaned daily.

The other irony is that those businesses tend to be owned by Republican supporters who want smaller government and less regulation. Major cognitive dissonance happening here…🤔😵‍💫😖

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

Here is another one is Boomer Nostalgia with music its an editorial on the demographics on the music end.

 

[gr8oldies]

Very true. The first generation of non-English speaking immigrants spends its life working to achieve something for their family to build on. Few become proficient enough in English to go to college.

In fact, the average education of immigrants from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico is 6th grade for men and less than that (no primary school "diploma") for women. Their ability to read and write is basic, and the subjects taht teach logic and discipline, like science and math, are at best very basic.

What we have with the millions that have come across the southern border in the last two and a half years is going to fill the vacancies in agriculture, food processing, basic services like hotel staff and city /private maintenance. It will be two generations before the children are in homes where the environment stimulates higher education. In the meantime, Tyson and Motel 6 have low wage staff that is complacent and afraid of deportation or anything governmental.

 

[gr8oldies]

There's a reason Arkansas is pushing the idea of child labor

 

[gr8oldies]

Apologies, I can't delete this even within the edit window

 

[Kelly A]

There's a reason Arkansas is pushing the idea of child labor

Yes I believe companies like Tyson's Foods and General Mills In Arkansas have been under scrutiny for using contract labor that 'hires' immigrant children, some 13 or 14 years old, to work in dangerous and nasty jobs.

 

[davideduardo]

Yes I believe companies like Tyson's Foods and General Mills In Arkansas have been under scrutiny for using contract labor that 'hires' immigrant children, some 13 or 14 years old, to work in dangerous and nasty jobs.

/SARCASM ON

How dangerous is a dead chicken?

/ SARCASM OFF

Seriously, I got my first job that required an SS number at age 13. I did odd jobs and had a print shop several years before that. I find that preventing kids from working by means of excessive regulation and extensive rules to be detrimental to the creation of respect for labor.

 

[Kelly A]

Seriously, I got my first job that required an SS number at age 13. I did odd jobs and had a print shop several years before that. I find that preventing kids from working by means of excessive regulation and extensive rules to be detrimental to the creation of respect for labor.

Really? So it's okay to take unaccompanied immigrant kids dropped across the border and put them to work long hours in 'jobs' where hazardous conditions like dangerous meatpacking machinery and long hours? And then, their 'sponsors' keep the money?

Child labor probe spreads to meatpacking, produce firms in 11 states

A federal investigation into Guatemalan children working in the U.S. in violation of child labor laws has expanded to include firms across the country, from Virginia to Colorado.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[davideduardo]

Really? So it's okay to take unaccompanied immigrant kids dropped across the border and put them to work long hours in 'jobs' where hazardous conditions like dangerous meatpacking machinery and long hours? And then, their 'sponsors' keep the money?

That is a slavery and an immigration question and properly regulated in those areas, not by regulating legal employment for teens who wish to earn some money and gain work experience. Let's not "throw out the baby with the bathwater" here.

 

[Kelly A]

That is a slavery and an immigration question and properly regulated in those areas, not by regulating legal employment for teens who wish to earn some money and gain work experience. Let's not "throw out the baby with the bathwater" here.

But scumbags like these 'sponsors' that sell the kids to employment subcontractors are toeing the line in states where child labor is allowed. I agree its different than little Johnny wanting to make some after school money with parental permission, but that's the problem. Loosen laws that apply to little Johnny, and scumbags will take advantage.
15 years old, no more than 20hrs per week, not in dangerous work, is fine. Allowing 13 years old is too young. Need to make the law consistent, otherwise slavery happens.

 

[davideduardo]

But scumbags like these 'sponsors' that sell the kids to employment subcontractors are toeing the line in states where child labor is allowed. I agree its different than little Johnny wanting to make some after school money with parental permission, but that's the problem. Loosen laws that apply to little Johnny, and scumbags will take advantage.

Then legislate parental consent requirements with a witnessed affidavit. I was "emancipated" by my mother so I could work nights in Ohio at age 14, so things like that are doable. I suggest addressing the causal issue, not the ability for kids to work under the proper conditions.

15 years old, no more than 20hrs per week, not in dangerous work, is fine. Allowing 13 years old is too young. Need to make the law consistent, otherwise slavery happens.

I worked a couple of hours a day and most of Saturday at a print shop when I was 10 or 11, mostly sorting pied type and taking out the trash and cleaning ink rollers and the like. After saving some, I bought a printing press and did all kinds of work for my school and did QSL cards for hundreds of hams and radio stations.

At 13 I did board shifts and "janatorial" at WJMO and WCUY in Cleveland. I still had a 4.0 GPA at school. I never got a U.S. high school degree, but when I did the GED tests in AZ to get into college, I got the highest scores ever registered in the state and I attribute much of that to the fact that whatever I learned in school I was able to relate to real life, going back to my first paying jobs when I was about 10.

When I got to be a station manager, I never had any reservation about mopping the floor if the janitor was out sick or staying up all night to help the contract engineer. I never said, "It's not my job, man".

We have to protect kids from exploitation, not from themselves.

 

[Kelly A]

Then legislate parental consent requirements with a witnessed affidavit.

Court approved 'sponsors' or guardians of unaccompanied immigrant kids signed the same sort of approval.

At 13 I did board shifts and "janatorial" at WJMO and WCUY in Cleveland. I still had a 4.0 GPA at school. I never got a U.S. high school degree, but when I did the GED tests in AZ to get into college, I got the highest scores ever registered in the state and I attribute much of that to the fact that whatever I learned in school I was able to relate to real life, going back to my first paying jobs when I was about 10.

I honestly don't have a problem with kids picking fruit for extra money, provided they aren't exploited by their parents, guardians, or sponsors, and prevent the job from getting in the way of a proper education. Same with mopping floors over a weekend. I had two paper routes when I was a kid, but those aren't a thing anymore. To that point; we live in a different world now. Kids can be exploited and abused by adults in an unsupervised environment. If I had a fifteen year old, no way would I allow them to work at a paying job. They can earn through doing extra work around the home.

 

[davideduardo]

Court approved 'sponsors' or guardians of unaccompanied immigrant kids signed the same sort of approval.

Then the problem of the way the court works needs solving, not barring all teens from working.

I honestly don't have a problem with kids picking fruit for extra money, provided they aren't exploited by their parents, guardians, or sponsors, and prevent the job from getting in the way of a proper education. Same with mopping floors over a weekend. I had two paper routes when I was a kid, but those aren't a thing anymore. To that point; we live in a different world now. Kids can be exploited and abused by adults in an unsupervised environment.

And thus, legislation and systems need to prevent expolitation, not the ability to have a part time job.

If I had a fifteen year old, no way would I allow them to work at a paying job. They can earn through doing extra work around the home.

I created my own "part time job" at about age 10. I had about 15 to 20 hours a week when I was 13. I found school very boring and no challenge at all, so working "in the real world" was far more productive. And, aided by investing, by 18 I could build and run my own radio station.