Demographic Change and Local Government
Demographic trends can have a profound effect on local governments in such areas as planning for service delivery and the composition of the governmental workforce. These trends include an increase in the number of senior citizens due to longer life expectancy and the aging of the baby boom generation, as well as a more ethnically diverse population. The retirement of the baby boomers may result in labor shortages at the same time that more services are needed to support senior citizens. Generational diversity will also affect the local government workforce and may influence personnel policies and practices.
Planning for demographic change involves more than analyzing past population trends. It requires an assessment of current trends and the development of future projections. An awareness of these trends and their potential impacts on local government is essential for informed decision-making. These pages provide an overview of demographic trends that may affect local governments. This information includes links to reference sources that address workforce challenges and how local governments can plan for future service delivery.
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Related Resources
MRSC Index - Population trends