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Explaining the "Brain Drain" from Older Industrial Cities: The Pittsburgh Region

University of Pittsburgh

Carolyn Ban

University of Pittsburgh

Leonard Huggins

University of Pittsburgh

In an effort to understand why so many college graduates are leaving western Pennsylvania, recent college graduates from three Pittsburgh-area universities were surveyed about their career and location decisions. The results indicated some increase in those staying between 1994 and 1999. A logistic regression analysis showed that an improving economy, low housing costs, and ample opportunities for continuing education were the major reasons. However, the region is still losing disproportionate numbers of minorities and graduates in high-tech fields and is attracting few immigrants. The major competition was from neighboring states rather than the Sun Belt. Low salaries and lack of advancement opportunities, especially for women, minorities, and two-career couples, were the primary reasons. The results suggest several policy recommendations to help retain recent area graduates and to attract more highly skilled workers to the region.

Key Words: human capital • brain drain • migration • Pittsburgh • labor force

Economic Development Quarterly, Vol. 17, No. 2, 132-147 (2003)
DOI: 10.1177/0891242403017002002


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