Western Pa. population growth hinges on immigrants

This area and many others know they need immigrants to grow and be prosperous. Their populations are shrinking.    - - Donna Poisl

By BRIAN BOWLING, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Western Pennsylvania's population growth for the next several years will be from moving vans rather than the stork, experts say.

The region's natural population decline, represented by funerals outpacing baby showers every year, is being offset somewhat by people moving here from other parts of the country and the world.

"Right now, international immigration is much bigger than domestic migration," said Chris Briem, a regional economist at the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Social and Urban Research. "How that will forecast out to the future will depend on how the economy goes."
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