Young, educated singles flock to LV

Heather Rawlyk

Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2003 | 11:16 a.m.

Las Vegas and Nevada are popular places for young, educated single people, according to a new census report.

The report, released Monday, says Nevada topped the nation between 1995 and 2000 in the net rate of 25- to 39-year-old college graduates who moved. The net migration rate reflects how many young, single college graduates the city gained over five years per 1,000 who already lived here.

Las Vegas had the second-highest net-migration rate of young, single college graduates among metropolitan areas, behind Naples, Fla., said the report, "Migration of the Young, Single and College Educated: 1995-2000."

"Las Vegas is America's playground," said Melissa Lewis, 26, who is studying for her master's at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She moved to Nevada from Minnesota. "You don't really plan on settling down, and you're on the go, so you come here when you're young."

Most of her friends here are from another state, Lewis said.

The report says the overall trend is that young, single college graduates are moving to large metropolitan areas, and Las Vegas is a favorite destination.

That makes sense to Keith Schwer, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at UNLV, who said young, single college grads are likely to move because they have fewer ties.

"This age group in particular has less ties to a certain region, and that's a major factor," he said. "They come to a point where they graduate and have nothing holding them back, unlike someone who is older and has accumulated investments in the community or have children holding them back."

A big draw for them is the same as for others who have made Las Vegas among the fastest growing cities: a continuously growing economy, he said.

"Las Vegas is always growing and so is the economy," Schwer said. "The No. 1 reason people come to Las Vegas is jobs."

Hal Rothman, chairman of UNLV's history department, agreed.

"It's no surprise that young people out of college are coming to Las Vegas," he said. "Opportunity is the key word here. People are drawn to opportunity."

Rothman sasid the opportunities that draw young college graduates are related to their education.

"I think people are getting jobs that they trained for in college," he said. "Architects, lawyers and those kinds of positions are booming here."

Rothman said that this demographic group is joining an upper middle class trend.

"These graduates are making money because of the Strip, but not necessarily working on the Strip," he said. "This age group is when white collar Americans make career moves. You're young and upwardly mobile with nothing like children holding you back yet."

Nancy Rahija, 31, a master's degree student at UNLV who moved here from Toronto, also has seen the diversity of opportunity for young professionals.

"I think there's a large call for professions like doctors and lawyers," she said. "I know the state is trying to educate and attract educated individuals. The city is changing in that aspect."

Bo Bernhard, assistant professor of sociology at UNLV and a longtime resident, said he has seen young, educated people moving here for professional opportunities.

"This is no longer the kind of industry with just noneducated people dealing cards and that kind of thing," he said. "Now there are a lot of positions that require an education."

Bernhard said that jobs in the gaming industry now require a high education.

"IGT and the folks that manufacture games are into computer programming and are very intelligent individuals," he said. "Education is high within the industry jobs that people don't think about traditionally."

The appeal is greater than jobs, said Michael Todoran, 28, an undergraduate student at UNLV originally from Los Angeles.

"I think years ago people were moving here because of the gaming, but now people move here because of cheap housing, jobs and different cultures," he said. "People come in this young stage and have opportunities out here to expand."

Rahija, of Toronto, said Las Vegas has a greater appeal. The city is unique.

"I think people come here because they have an opportunity to go somewhere that's really different and this is the place to go," she said. "It's like no other city. You live in one city like New York and it's like Toronto but bigger. You can't find another city like Las Vegas, nothing is equivalent or compares."

James Frey, dean of UNLV's College of Liberal Arts, says that's what really draws young educated singles to Las Vegas.

"The city has a clubbing lifestyle that most people don't have," Frey said. "They may come here to find the kind of social life that they might not find in other places."

If they can't find a job in their field, that's not necessarily a drawback, he said.

"You can be 21 years old and have no education and make a lot of money here," Frey said. "No matter what your degree is, you could get a high paying job."

Frey said that Las Vegas very appealing.

"Life in the fast lane and an opportunity to make pretty good money brings a lot of people in," Frey said. "I'm not sure if people can make money in their field of education, necessarily, but can make a lot of money doing something."