Connecticut Among Leading States in Attracting Remote Workers to Relocate Here

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, changing jobs usually implied that people had to relocate to be close to the company’s office. However, with remote work proving to be a better and safer alternative during the pandemic and remaining a popular option for companies and employees today, moving to another location for work has become unnecessary.

While work may not be the main reason people choose to relocate, there are still many reasons for which someone would want to move to another place, whether within or out of state.

To develop data on the impact of the growth in remote work on the migration pattern of workers, Yardi Cube, a coworking space management platform, looked at IPUMS USA data, focusing specifically on remote versus onsite workers. IPUMS provides integrated census and survey data.

The resulting in-depth look at the substantial migration trends across the country found that Connecticut is among the leaders in this nationwide shift. Among the highlights:

•    Connecticut welcomed an influx of approximately 146,000 new residents in 2022, driven significantly by remote work opportunities. 

•    Of these new arrivals, 21,000 were remote workers, emphasizing the state’s appeal “due to its vibrant economy and a flexible work environment,” the Yardi Cube website points out.

•    This migration has caused changes in local economies and communities, with Connecticut now serving as a vibrant hub for business and innovation, particularly attracting Millennials, a sought-after demographic. 

Nationwide in 2022, remote workers embraced relocating, either within the same state or out of state, with 10.5% moving within the same state and 4.3% moving to other states. These percentages are higher than those for onsite workers (2.5%) and even the population overall (2.5%). In fact, 1 in 8 people who relocated to another state were remote workers.

Among remote workers in 2022, the most recent full-year data available, Connecticut saw 20,506 remote workers moving in to the state, and about half that many – 10,653 – moving out of the state, for a net of 9,8453 moving in.  Connecticut also faired well in the number of on-site workers moving in, with 66,400, versus 33,781 moving out.  The new increase in on-site workers moving in ranked third highest in the nation, according to the data compiled. Only Florida and Texas ranked higher.

California, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Illinois ranked as the five least popular states for relocating remote workers.  Massachusetts experienced a net loss of 12,553 relocating remote workers.

In reviewing the data on migration of remote workers by generation, Connecticut ranked 3rd with Gen Z, and 6th with Millennials, the two youngest demographic categories.  The state ranked 28th with Gen X, and 13th with Boomers.  Nationwide, more than 50% of remote workers moving are millennials, according to the research, Yardi Cube reported.