Attracting young professionals

The Spec's Meredith MacLeod reports:

'Young people say they like Hamilton because it's affordable and they can get a good education. But the city risks losing talented professionals because of a perceived lack of job options, nightlife and vitality.

A report presented at a community forum yesterday concluded that on only one measure did Hamilton rank as well positioned to compete for next-generation, under-40 talent compared with seven Canadian "peer cities." That measure was social capital, which looks at how open, safe and accessible a city is to all people.

On measures of nightlife, ability to get around town, cost of living, vitality and earning potential, Hamilton ranked average.

Perhaps surprisingly, given its range of post-secondary institutions, the city ranked below average on learning.

Overall, Hamilton ranked fifth among the eight cities, with a score across seven indexes of 4.86 out of 10. Hamilton was behind Calgary, Halifax, London, Ont., and Saskatoon and ahead of Kitchener, Windsor and Oshawa.

The study, called Destination Hamilton: Values and Perceptions of Next Generation Talent, drew a clear line between the reality in Hamilton and what the city is perceived to offer.

While a lack of quality jobs is the primary reason cited by young people who have left Hamilton or don't intend to stay, the study actually found the city compares well to its peers in terms of median income, levels of entrepreneurship and proportion of workers in the knowledge economy.'

What do you think?

Comments

[TheRandomFactor]

Hamilton is more like the bedroom community for GTA.Unfortunately we have to have a person with vision and the know how to implement changes to the city.Sadly not one of the candidates have it.

[Nike Vandal]

If you'd make a guy content, will not add to his possessions but subtract from his needs. Did you concur with me?

[DDT]

Hamilton is a city with low self esteem that is allows itself to be bullied by special interests. Council is dysfunctional and I see it as a major cause of this great city's problems. This city needs to respect its history and focus on rebuilding the core. I am a young professional and relatively new to this city -- I can't believe how much Hamilton has to offer. It's hard to convince others with the shape of downtown and recent news about the stadium.

[ed]

"nightlife" thats really funny, a smoking cop on one side, a ride program on the other and a horse in the middle. Oh and watch out for that falling brick, lol. Affordable? between president Ginky and city hall lying and taxing, what exactly is affordable? With a chance to put housing near the core to attract new professionals the city wants to put a stadium there, what a bunch of imbeciles! With just about everyone in Ontario laughing uncontrollably at Hamtown, why exactly would you want to stay here or even say you're from here. The city doesn't listen to studies or their own consultants unless it suggests they should get a raise in pay, all others are paid for with my money and then thrown out, which is where this study should go.

[Ed2]

A City can be measured by how the residents view their own City. I have travelled extensively across Canada and the United States and do enjoy Hamilton and Dundas but the problem as I see it is our Council lets the scenery decay and vacant buildings do not a pleasant sight create. The constant drag of time between decisions from Council doesn't help. They seem to invoke high-speed Parking Control and Red Light Camera changes for a perceived income but fail to act upon well needed development.

Hamilton has a tremedous attraction appeal that needs to be developed. Escarpment tours and hiking, general aviation services, botanical gardens, museums, art galleries, creative arts participation, and much more. It needs to be instilled that Hamilton can provide a great quality of life as opposed to the compression stressed rat race maze of choked out Toronto.

[Leaving For A Better Life]

@Allan

Don't let the door hit me on the way out?...AHA, sorry I had to laugh because if its like everything else in hamilton, that door is already off its hinges, all ya gotta do is step over it. LMAO!

But also please do not get me wrong, I do not mean to bash the city I grew up in, but this place has so much potential just being wasted away.

[Gene Simmons]

I'm sorry you feel that way, Leaving. You are quite right though. Hamilton is not the best place to be if you desire a more active, varied lifestyle.

[Allan Taylor]

goodbye, don't let the door hit you on the way out LFABL

[Leaving For A Better Life]

Im 18 years old going into the medical field. I was born and raised here, and the honest truth is they can do what ever they want to keep us here, But this city will always be a dead beat dump. There are no opportunities here. There is no night life, unless you want to risk getting mugged down town by crack heads or gangs. I am so sick of this city that I will soon be leaving for good and not looking back. This city has done NOTHING for me in my 18 years of life. I wear glasses but it still doesn't ease the pain of seeing this eye sore of a city. What would this city be like if McMaster wasn't here. I am sorry but I have not heard one person my age say I'm staying in Hamilton. It is just not happening anymore. Unless this miracle comes about that turns this city into a beautiful place to work and live then I would stay, but I do not see that happening.

Sorry City of Hamilton, but you offer nothing that an educated youth would want.