Almost Half Of CT Residents Plan To Leave: Survey

CONNECTICUT — A new report from InformCT found the state's residents are more likely to move away than ever before, with 47 percent saying they plan to leave in the next five years. The finding ties with the fourth quarter of 2018 as the highest ever.

At the same time, residents are reporting that they are more financially stable than before. Thirty-five percent said they're better off financially than six months ago, whereas 23% reported that they're worse off.

Also, residents are relatively positive on the outlook for business and jobs, with 73% saying they think business conditions are better or the same than six months ago. Only 16% said it's very hard to find jobs in the state, the best figure since the quarterly survey began in 2015.

About 30% of respondents said the state's economy is improving; compared to 42% who say it's getting worse.

The survey also found that residents are demanding short-term training, skills development, and certificate programs. Almost half the state's residents—49%—said in the InformCT Consumer Confidence Survey that they preferred these offerings instead of expanding K-12 or college education options or incentives to attract out-of-state workers.

This was the top choice among every category of state residents, including those employed full-time, part-time, and unemployed, according to InformCT.

The survey's findings coincide with a report released earlier this year that said Connecticut is the third highest state residents are fleeing, according to the 42nd annual "National Movers Study," conducted by United Van Lines. That study tracked its customers' state-to-state migration patterns in 2018.

In Connecticut, residents most often come for jobs and ironically leave for jobs that student concludes.

Here's what they found for Connecticut:

• Inbound
• Retirement: 12.63 percent
• Health: 5.26 percent
• Family: 27.37 percent
• Lifestyle: 10.53 percent
• Job: 49.47 percent
• Outbound
• Retirement: 30.77 percent
• Health: 2.56 percent
• Family: 17.44 percent
• Lifestyle: 20.51 percent
• Job: 34.87 percent