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London’s our playground but it’s time to move on

Kids these days. They treat London like their personal playground.

They come to the city on a whim in their youth, some to check out its rumoured party scene or to get away from home –– and while they’re at it, squeeze in an education.

And what do they get? In most cases, not much more than what they came for. Some memories, a diploma and a limited knowledge of anything outside Richmond Row.

Then they grow up. And they leave. And I bet you’ll be one of them.

According to a report released by local non-profit group Emerging Leaders, London’s 2006 net migration rate for the 25 to 44-year-old demographic was not only less than that in both Kitchener and Hamilton, but also had increased by more than half since 2004.

Young professionals just aren’t sticking around. Unfortunately, it’s a problem that stifles economic growth in the Forest City, and it’s only going to get worse as the population ages since there simply aren’t young people entering the workforce and starting families of their own.

But why would we want to stay? Sure, there’s a decent arts and culture scene, some great downtown restaurants and the sort of quaint suburban lifestyle most people aspire to by their mid-30s. But there just aren’t enough jobs and let’s be honest – that’s all most of us care about when we graduate.

Thankfully, the City of London has woken up to this problem. Mayor Joe Fontana addressed a crowd of 1,300 yesterday at the London Convention Centre to give the annual State of the City address – and he stressed the need to actively engage young people.

“London has a bright future and London’s youth are standing at the centre of that future,” he told the crowd. “London needs to retain the vibrant young entrepreneurs and professionals who call London home.”

But, he added later, they need the investment and nurturing within our community before they’ll stay. And when he says that, I know he’s talking about Western students.

Fontana said 85 per cent of Fanshawe College grads stay here after they graduate. I’ve yet to find comparable numbers for Western, but I’m banking on it being a lot less than that.

The sort of jobs university students prepare and pay a lot of dough for just don’t exist on a large scale in London.

And that’s where I differ with a commonly held belief that London’s miniature size — compared to epicentres like Toronto and Montreal — is the reason for the annual brain drain. Size does matter. Big cities simply have more job opportunities, and that’s why most people I know are heading to Toronto, or Vancouver, or overseas after graduation. It’s all about the jobs.

So even though London’s mayor talks about fostering a climate to retain young professionals, it’s going to take a lot more than heartwarming rhetoric to make us stay.

Until then, kids will make London their playground for a few years. Then they’ll grow up and move out.

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