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wbjournal.com | April 27, 2020 | Worcester Business Journal 13 shut off," said Bill Stock, Seven Hills' vice president for government and community relations. "It's become so difficult that it's not even worth our while to try." A common regional challenge e Worcester area is not alone in struggling to attract more new residents. e Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven and Springfield areas each lost population in 2019, and Hartford and New Haven did throughout the 2010s. Outpacing Worcester in population growth in 2019 were metro areas around Portland, Maine; Manchester, N.H.; and Providence. In 2019, just 145 more people moved into the Worcester metro area than moved out – known as net migration – the lowest total since 2012. Put these trends together, and 2019 gave the Worcester area its lowest one- year population increase of the decade. e Worcester metro area averaged 3,261 additional residents every year through the first nine years of the decade, including 3,966 in 2018. In 2019, only 1,291 were added to the area's population, a rise of 0.1%. at's one-fih of the national growth rate. Since 2010, the Worcester metro area has grown by 3.3%. e national average is 6.3%. In Massachusetts, it's 5.3%. New England metros international immigration, by year The number of foreign-born residents moving into a metro area, each year The immigration decline is temporary F L AS H P O L L Can Greater Worcester reverse the decline in new immigrants moving to the region? COMMENTS: Less than half the typical number of foreign-born immigrants moved into the Worcester metropolitan area in 2019, with 2,272, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Those international arrivals are needed to sustain the area's population, which otherwise loses more people to the rest of the country than relocate here each year. The drop in new immigrants led to the lowest annual population gain by far for Greater Worcester since 2010. When polled online, the majority of WBJ readers felt the number of immigrants coming to the region would rise again. "The question should be, 'What does Worcester have to do to reverse the decline?'." No. The U.S. has lost the appeal it once had to foreigners. Yes. The trend is only temporary because of President Donald Trump's policies. 29% Yes. Greater Worcester is historically a destination for immigrants and will be again soon. 27% 8% No. Immigrants are instead being drawn to other American regions. 37% "This question is so slanted that it is amazing that the letters don't just slide off the page." New England metros population changes Portland, Maine 3,268 538,500 4.7% Manchester, N.H. 2,395 417,025 4.1% Worcester 1,291 947,404 3.3% Bridgeport -639 943,332 2.9% Providence 2,199 1,624,578 1.5% Springfield -2,756 697,382 0.6% Hartford -1,262 1,204,877 -0.6% New Haven -2,214 854,757 -0.9% 2018-2019 2019 population Decade Metro area population change estimate percent change Net migration in New England metros Portland, Maine 2,260 3,637 Manchester, N.H. 558 1,652 Providence 1,027 1,270 Worcester 1,628 145 Hartford -2,094 -1,910 Springfield 289 -2,685 New Haven -1,715 -2,858 Bridgeport -155 -3,343 Annual average Metro area from 2010 to 2018 2019 National migration Portland, Maine 1,590 3,174 Manchester, N.H. -839 650 Worcester -2,156 -2,127 Providence -3,924 -3,185 Springfield -2,975 -3,644 New Haven -5,060 -5,598 Hartford -6,900 -6,050 Bridgeport -4,614 -8,080 Annual average from Metro area 2010 to 2018 2019 Bridgeport 797 4,608 5,465 3,711 6,057 5,138 4,473 4,394 5,483 4,737 Providence 1,827 5,287 5,424 4,891 4,888 6,015 5,770 4,087 6,371 4,455 Hartford 787 4,299 5,130 3,659 6,188 5,857 5,204 5,271 6,860 4,140 New Haven 542 2,817 3,696 2,673 4,449 3,975 3,552 3,623 4,776 2,740 Worcester 801 3,337 3,814 3,528 4,419 4,073 4,509 4,946 4,627 2,272 Manchester, N.H. 270 1,485 1,680 1,238 1,385 1,917 1,949 1,371 1,272 1,002 Springfield 783 3,498 3,603 3,308 3,674 3,228 3,328 3,765 4,188 959 Portland, Maine 162 616 261 948 1,787 362 1,107 323 464 463 Source: U.S. Census Bureau Metro area 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Source: U.S. Census Bureau Source: U.S. Census Bureau Source: U.S. Census Bureau Net migration wasn't kind to Massachusetts, either. e state had the fih highest loss nationally in domestic migration last year at 30,274. e U.S. as a whole has been attracting fewer immigrants, too. e decade-high mark for new arrivals was more than 1 million in 2016. By 2019, it declined by 43% from that point. e trend coincides with President Donald Trump's term in the White House, with stricter immigration policies and a less welcoming attitude toward foreign-born residents. Trump said March 20 he plans to suspend immigration indefinitely, citing the coronavirus pandemic, which itself could pose a longer-term practical challenge regardless of who is in the White House. "Unfortunately, the current administration has a policy in place that hasn't exactly been welcoming," Stock said. "It's going to take some time to reverse the process of these last few years." Hollander, the Tus professor, said he expects the United States to nonetheless continue to be a draw for immigrants. e ultimate challenge is whether foreigners are able to get a visa to study or a work permit, he said, something that largely lies with the U.S. president. Fabos was more optimistic when looking longer-term. "Our sense is that immigrants especially make a distinction between the federal policies of today and the overall feeling of the welcome by the U.S. public," she said, referring to a migration-focused research team she leads at Clark. "Of course, there are some who may be put off by the general climate," she added, "but there are not too many alternatives to the U.S. for educational and professional opportunities, and Worcester attracts a good number of international students as well as skilled migrants." National migration is the net of the number of American residents moving into a metro area vs. out of a metro area. Net migration is determined by adding international immigration with national migration to determine how people moving in and out impact a region's population. W