ST. GEORGE — A new report found the population of children recorded in 2020 was 1.1 million fewer than in 2010.
According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, it is the first absolute drop in the number of kids decade to decade since the Great Depression. However, Utah is among the five states seeing the largest increase in the number of children in the same time frame.
Martin Munoz, Kids Count director at Voices for Utah Children, said those younger than 18 make up about one-third of the state’s population but said they are noticing declines as well.
Munoz pointed out the birthrate has declined for a number of reasons and that the trend will have implications for the future.
“We are facing, down the road, a very smaller workforce, labor force to provide for as generations get older and providing that tax-based support,” Munoz explained.
Munoz emphasized it is important to note the report is using data from the 2020 census, which he said presented challenges because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He argued the pandemic “threw a huge wrench into the count.” The report states children younger than four had a higher net undercount and “preliminary analysis suggests Black and Hispanic children were missed at a higher rate than white children.”
Munoz added, “It’ll be interesting” to see where things are for the state of Utah and the country in 2030 during the next census count.
Munoz contended despite the national decrease in the child population, more should be done to ensure children and families have access to programs to help them succeed. For Utahns thinking about having kids, or for those who already have them, the rising cost of child care is a real concern.
“It’s going to be scary over the next years seeing how we try to figure out to provide child care in our nation,” Munoz asserted. “How are we going to work to make sure families are able to continue working, but then also making sure their children have a safe place to be taken care of.”
The report also highlighted racial diversity among children is increasing, to which Munoz said he hopes schools and institutions are able to become more culturally sensitive.
Written by ALEX GONZALEZ, producer for Utah News Connection.
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