Changes and shifts in population are important variables impacting economic development.
Economic development requires that businesse s have access to land, capital and workers.
To stimulate economic development, each element of this equation must be understood. Access to workers in a given area can be understood in part by knowing the population trends and patterns of that area. An increase or decrease in population may alter the availability of labor, and in turn, the unemployment and wage rates. Areas with rapidly expanding populations are generally appealing to prospective companies because they provide opportunities for growth. This article highlights important aspects of Indiana s population patterns that may be impacting the state s economy.