BY THE EDITORIAL PAGE STAFF OF THE FREE LANCE-STAR
DURING 2020, more people moved out of Virginia than in, according to United Van Linesâ 44th National Migration Study, which was released earlier this month. Though the population outflow was somewhat balanced by an influx of people moving here from other states, the net result was that Virginia lost residents while its immediate neighbors and competitors to the southâNorth Carolina and Tennessee (the 6th and 7th destinations in the nation for inbound movers)âgained population.
When states lose educated and highly-skilled workers and canât attract enough newcomers to take their place, they lose their competitive edge to states with a more dynamic and still-growing workforce. And once that happens, itâs hard to reverse.