The Capital Region continued to grow through the pandemic, making it one of only two economic development regions in the state to see total population gains between July 1, 2020, and July 1, 2021.
Even more, the eight-county region had New York’s greatest number of annual net domestic movers during that period, according to a Center for Economic Growth analysis of new U.S. Census Bureau estimates.
CEG said Saratoga County saw the state’s second biggest gain in annual net domestic movers and also had third largest total population annual gain in state.
Warren County ranked 12th for annual net domestic movers, the agency said.
“We are a million-strong region and getting bigger. The Center for Economic Growth launched our CapNY talent attraction campaign in April 2021,” said CEG President and CEO Mark Eagan. “We sensed that if we could raise awareness about all the opportunities and lifestyle in the Capital Region, then more people would want to come here to work and live. We were onto something, and these Census Bureau population estimates show that.
“The GoCapNY.com website is attracting much traffic, especially from the New York City and Boston areas, and we will be launching new initiatives to engage and connect with interns this summer.”
CEG said that between July 1, 2020, and July 1, 2021, the eight-county region’s population grew by 1,212, or 0.1 percent, to 1,106,274. The only other Regional Economic Development Council region to see population growth was the Hudson Valley, which picked up 3,032 people, or .01 percent. The statewide population declined by -1.6 percent. The five-county Albany-Schenectady-Troy metropolitan statistical area (MSA) also saw a 0.1 percent population gain to 918,259.
Among the eight counties in the Capital Region, half grew their populations over the year: Saratoga (+1,670), Greene (+609), Schenectady (+228), Columbia (+228). Rensselaer County sustained the biggest loss (-691), followed by Albany (-625), Washington (-187) and Warren (-20).
Saratoga County had the state’s third largest total population gain (+1,670).
CEG said driving the Capital Region’s growth was an annual net domestic migration of 3,176 and a net international migration of 541. The Capital Region’s domestic annual net migration was by far the largest in the state, with the North County region trailing at 239. Warren County ranked 12th at 315.
CEG launched a talent attraction campaign in April 2021 using the CapNY brand. The talent campaign works collaboratively across target industry sectors and organizations to attract and retain talented, diverse people who want to live in New York’s Capital Region because of its lifestyle and opportunity.
The CapNY website—GoCapNY.com—and its associated social media channels are key elements of CEG’s talent campaign, which markets New York’s eight-county, million-resident Capital Region as a destination of choice, specifically highlighting its quality of place. To achieve these objectives, CEG is also targeting out of market social media placements, piloting outreach to universities and colleges to engage students and local companies to engage interns, as well as connecting regional companies and HR professionals to tools for recruitment.
As the nonprofit regional economic development organization, CEG seeks growth by attracting investment and talent; growing manufacturing and workforce capabilities, leveraging industry clusters, and developing the entrepreneurial ecosystem. It works with partners and stakeholders to prepare the region to compete and move high-impact strategies and projects forward.
An affiliate of the Capital Region Chamber, CEG is supported by investors in business, government, education, and the nonprofit sectors who are committed to sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity. For more information on CEG, visit www.ceg.org.