Sacramento Bee: California birth rate drops to Great Depression levels

[proverbialwisdom]

http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article121891393.html

December 19, 2016 4:45 PM

California birth rate drops to Great Depression levels
By Jim Miller

California’s birth rate has fallen to the lowest levels in modern state history, according to new Department of Finance estimates, which peg the state population at 39.4 million after growing by 295,000 from July 1, 2015 to July 1, 2016.

The birth rate of 12.42 live births per 1,000 people is down from a rate of 13.69 per 1,000 people at the time of the 2010 census, according to Monday’s report. The next-lowest birth rate was in 1933, one of the worst years of the Great Depression.

CHART: http://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/EZ0DS/3/

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A shift in education and workplace trends seems to be responsible for the latest decline in birth rates, said Walter Schwarm of the Department of Finance’s demographics unit.

“The going theory is that as college becomes more important, we have a larger number of individuals going to college than ever before,” he said. That delays child bearing, as does people looking to establish themselves professionally after earning degrees. As a result, many first-time parents are in their 30’s, he said.

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[liberal N proud]

1. The cost of having and raising a child has to be a factor

[Warpy]

2. Actually, it means that in some families, wome are bringing home most of the bacon

and can't afford time off to have a first or subsequent kid. In addition, people aren't getting married, especially if they're crushed under a massive burden of college debt. Many are living with their parents and don't own cars, two things that cramp one's dating style.

I fully expect the rate to keep falling until the economy turns around and we all know that's not going to happen in the next 4 years.

[mackerel]

3. I don't think this will effect California's population.