The age demographics of Elizabeth, NJ demonstrates that there has been a definite change towards an aging population. The percentage of people within the age group of 4 to 17 years has declined from 2000-2010 by 1.37 per cent. Though the number of people from 18 to 64 years has increased by 6.1 per cent, there has been a sharp decline in the people above the age of 65 years by 4.48 per cent (see figure 1) (“Elizabeth, New Jersey, Population”). The median age in 2000 census was 32.6 years while it increased to 33.2 years in 2010 (“Elizabeth, New Jersey, Population”). However, the national median age recorded in 2010 was 36.9 years (“National Population Projections”).
U.S. has an aging population with a definitive trend towards an increase in the percentage of people in the higher age group bracket since 2000 (Howden and Meyer 1). According to the age projections published by the US Census Bureau, there will be a marked increase in the rate of change of population within the age group of 65 years and above (“National Population Projections”).
In 2010, the percentage of people above 65 years was 9.2 per cent in Elizabeth city, which was lower than the state percentage of 13.5 per cent and the nation’s share of 12.7 per cent (“Elizabeth, New Jersey, Population”). This shows that the city of Elizabeth has lesser share of aged population. A comparison of the sex wise distribution of age in Elizabeth shows that the age distribution of the population has tended towards older age groups when the two census data on demographics (2000 and 2010). Similarly, for the US, the two data (for 2000 and 2010 census) demonstrates that the spread of the population has increased for older age groups vis-à -vis younger age groups across both sexes (see figure 2). Elizabeth city too has shown similar change in age distribution.
One unique feature of the city of Elizabeth’s age distribution of the population is that the city has a median age much lower than the national average of 36.9 years. Further, the concentration of the age demographics towards the older age groups has been less in the city as compared to the national data. On checking the national projections of age distribution in the US, it is observed that there is an expected trend of increasing older population throughout the country, with increasing concerns regarding older population. However, if a trend for the city’s above 65 years population is taken then it can be seen that there is no exponential growth in the percentage of older population (“National Population Projections”). The percentage of population within the age of 15 years to 44 years is too observed to follow a similar trend with no indication of a fall or rise in the imminent future (see figure 3).
However, the national trend in age and the city’s trend, it is expected that in future there will be a shift of the population towards the older population (“National Population Projections”). This will reduce the percentage of people in the working age category and would increase old age dependency of the city. Therefore, this will affect our lifestyle choices and the way the public administration and the city’s civic life would operate. Hence, as I would age in future, there would be a definite increase in the other aged people in the community, creating pressure on productivity of the community, as there will be fewer people working in full-time jobs.
Works Cited
“Elizabeth, New Jersey, Population”. US Census Bureau. 2010. Web.
Howden, Lindsay M. and Julie A. Meyer. “Age and Sex Composition: 2010.” US Census Bureau. 2011. Web.
“National Population Projections” . US Census Bureau. 2014. Web.