Philadelphia population loss slowing

Philadelphia continues to lose population, but not as much as in years past. That’s according to the most recent census estimate.

Philadelphia continues to lose population, but not as much as in years past. That’s according to the most recent census estimate.

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[audio: 090713spcensus.mp3]

The effort to reverse Philadelphia’s decade’s long trend of population loss may be making progress.

Steven Wray is the executive director of the Pennsylvania Economy League. He says there is an influx of empty-nesters into Center City, as well as successful efforts to keep the region’s college students in the area.

Wray: We’ve got a four year test drive for college students when they’re here and the more connections we can make while they’re here in the region the better chance we have of them deciding hey this is a good chance for them to live and work and we want to stay here.

Wray says there are other efforts to encourage immigrants to choose Philadelphia over more popular destinations like New York and Chicago. Last fall, the Brookings Institute published a report that called Philadelphia a “re-emerging immigrant gateway city.” But its difficult to measure how many of those immigrants remain in the area over time.