National trends are often slow arriving in Maine, but we will be smack on the cutting edge of one over the next few decades, the graying of America.

Newly released Census data shows that Utah is the youngest state in the U.S. while Maine is the oldest.

The median age in Utah is 28.8 compared to 42.2 in Maine. The national average for all states is 36.8.

Maine and Vermont also have the smallest percentage of the population under 5 years of age. Utah the highest.

Our aging-population problem is compounded by two things.

First, our population growth is practically stagnant. Second, we have the highest percentage of whites in the U.S.

While white births still account for 51.4 percent of all births in the U.S., their birthrate is lower than that of Hispanics and blacks.

The median age for whites in the U.S. is 41.2. For Hispanics, it was 27.2; blacks 30.3; and Asians 33.6.

The average age of multiracial Americans, meanwhile, a rapidly growing segment of our population, is a remarkable 19.7 percent.

Here’s the problem: Our social welfare safety net is based upon younger, working Americans helping to support the older non-workers among us.

Social Security, for instance, is a “pay-as-you-go” system, which means current workers pay the benefits of current retirees through payroll taxes.

In 1940, for instance, there were 42 people working for every person drawing benefits. By 1950, that ratio was 16 to one. Now, there are only 3.3 workers per retiree, and in the next 40 years that will drop to two workers per retiree.

Basically, as life expectancy increases, more workers are needed to support more retirees.

The same general principle applies to a state. A young workforce likely ensures there will be enough working people available to support those who are more dependant upon federal and state services.

In that regard, Utah is well-positioned. Maine? Not so well.

If we think our tax burden is high now, the demographics suggest the pressure will worsen in the future — fewer workers supporting more non-workers.

One reaction may help mitigate the trend, more older Americans are in better health than ever before and will choose to continue working.

Other workers, sadly, will be forced to do so when they find their retirement savings are not enough to sustain them in their retirement years.

In any event, Maine should be taking steps now to retain and attract young people.

The most compelling reason for people to move from one place to another is economic opportunity.

Young people are likely to stay in Maine if they have jobs; others will come if there are jobs available.

But job-creation success in Maine has been elusive. As several candidates pointed out during the gubernatorial primary, Maine now has roughly the same number of jobs as it did 10 years ago.

One of the first tasks of the next governor should be creation of a task force to explore the demographic challenges Maine will face over the next 30 years, and recommend policies that will position us for a secure future.

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