Star-Tribune Editorial Board

Wyoming's energy boom is bringing more younger workers to the state. But is it also causing older workers to leave?

That's one theory postulated by state economists, who recently reported that since 2001, the rate at which older workers have left Wyoming has increased. It can't be simply attributed to retirements. The exit rate for workers in the 45-54 age group has nearly doubled, and about half of those who left are now working in other states.

For many years, state officials have bemoaned the fact that youth were leaving Wyoming, decreasing our already limited supply of workers. Fortunately, in recent years that trend has been reversed, and young people are staying to take advantage of the abundant job opportunities here.

Why older, experienced workers are suddenly pulling up stakes and moving to other states is a mystery Wyoming officials need to solve. If we're going to stop the exodus, we need to better understand why they're leaving.

(Star-Tribune Business Editor Tom Mast is also looking for answers. Send your stories and theories to him at tom.mast@trib.com.)

It's important for officials to examine all of the factors that could be responsible. The state's lack of economic diversity could be one. If an older worker in a high-paying, physical job can no longer perform his or her duties, there may not be another job available in another field that would pay enough to keep a family afloat.

Lack of health care is another likely candidate.

As people get older, they may require more specialized care. While Wyoming has a shortage of family practice physicians, it also has fewer specialists in many fields, given the state's sparse population.

Coupled with the state's long-standing nursing shortage and the distance rural residents may need to travel to get to the nearest hospital, workers may simply feel the system isn't equipped to provide them adequate health care as they get older.

And don't rule out the weather. After many years of experiencing Wyoming's wind and snow, a less harsh climate may be mighty appealing.

But state researchers have also noticed that at the same time older workers are leaving Wyoming, home sale prices have significantly increased. That could be a factor.

People who lived through the last Wyoming oil bust and are still in the work force may be worried that another one is inevitable. If they bought their home, now might look like a good time to sell for a substantial profit, and move to a new area.

"The memory of those hard times may be tough to shake," noted Sylvia Jones, a state senior research analyst.

But nothing on the economic horizon suggests that a bust is coming any time soon.

Given Wyoming's solid record of providing energy for the rest of the nation, the demand for the state's minerals and renewable resources should remain high for a long time. Natural gas prices are much higher than they were expected to be a year ago. Oil prices are at a record high. Nationally, officials are looking for ways to use more of our domestic oil resources so we are not as dependent on foreign oil.

As the leading producer of coal, Wyoming stands to benefit from clean-coal technology efforts. Meanwhile, the state's abundant wind and solar power could help provide an increasing share of the nation's energy as America tries to reduce harmful emissions by using less fossil fuel.

State government revenue has grown substantially during the current energy boom. But the situation also bodes well for residents, with more high-paying jobs available than Wyoming can fill. Those jobs also create employment in other economic sectors. If the boom is to continue, the state can't afford to lose any workers.

We can't let the fear of a bust become a self-fulfilling prophecy.