New Jersey: We’re Not The Biggest Loser

Last month, a study came out that was circulated world wide that showed how New Jersey was getting smaller and smaller. But as it turns out, we're not really the biggest loser.

Apparently, according to a Rutgers University study, more people were leaving New Jersey than coming in. However, according to the fine folks at the New Jersey Policy Perspective, that conclusion was just plain wrong: “..a closer inspection shows that the Rutgers report’s doomsday forecast is based on selective use of census data.”

Rutgers using census data selectively? That can’t be good for an educational institution.

The Rutgers study showed that 231,565 more people left than came in ----that measured state-to-state movement, according to Mary E. Forsberg, the research director at the New Jersey Policy Perspective. The Rutgers report failed to take into account little things that impact population --- like births, deaths and immigration. Go figure.

Since 2000, New Jersey has increased in population from 8,414,350 to 8,724,560. That is an increase of 310,210. New Jersey, according to the NJPP analysis, has the fifth-largest immigrant stream of any state in the nation.

So, New Jersey, by the numbers , is not losing people, period. Thanks to Mary, for pointing that out.