Idaho millennials and retirees

Walk down the streets of Boise and you’ll see people of all ages, but slowly taking over the businesses are millennials – those age 20 to 35.

They bring with them a unique ideology. Nick Taylor, chairman of Boise young Professionals says they look for jobs where they can have an impact.

“They want to work somewhere where they feel like they matter, feel like they have opportunity, feel like they’re being listened to,” he said.

Area leaders in business and government have taken note, forming groups and think-tanks like BYP to capture the demographic. Taylor says they strive to include the younger generation in the planning of civic projects.

As one group comes to the state to start their lives, many others are coming at life’s close. More than 35,000 people age 65 and up have moved to Idaho since 2011 – more than any other age group. They bring with them a higher demand for healthcare.

In response, area hospitals are teaming up to provide the best care. The Idaho Medical Home Collaborative is a new way for doctors to collaborate on a patient’s care, regardless of where they get treatment.

“[It’s] a holistic long-term continuum of care involving both chronic disease and wellness programs with the goal of reducing utilization, keeping people out of the hospital,” said Dr. Steven D. Brown, VP and Chief Medical Officer of Saint Alphonsus Health Systems.

The added demand for care means more opportunity, bringing us full circle: jobs are out there for the incoming generation.

Although the groups seeing the largest growth are the young and old, it’s the middle aged that dominate in the state. Nearly half of the population is between forty and sixty-four. Idaho is in general somewhat young. The median age is two years younger than the national average.