Editorial: Is Illinois losing population? The question misses the point.

Census figures for Illinois have proven in recent years to be an unusually hot political topic. That happens when population loss takes hold as a negative narrative for a state.

The U.S. Census Bureau’s latest estimate, released earlier this week, showed Illinois’ population declining by 0.26% in the past year. That prompted the usual criticisms from conservative groups, which blame the state’s Democratic leaders for policies causing residents to leave, and the typical defenses from Democratic politicians such as Gov. J.B. Pritzker and U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi.

Indeed, in the recent past, the Census Bureau has adjusted its population figures for Illinois upward after allowing that it undercounted. The sky isn’t falling in the Land of Lincoln. But, we all can agree, it isn’t sunshine and rainbows, either.

We understand the Pritzker administration’s pushback to the latest figures given that Illinois’ share of substantial federal funds is tied to its number of residents. It’s the governor’s job to advocate for the state, and we certainly can use every federal dollar we can get.

On a longer-term basis, though, we shouldn’t allow the quibbling over these specifics to serve as the final word on the subject. The hard truth is that Illinois isn’t growing and thus is losing ground — in financial and political terms. If present trends continue, Illinois’ number of congressional seats will drop to 15 from the current 17, according to a recent report by the nonprofit Brennan Institute.

Illinois currently has the fifth largest share of House seats, tied with Pennsylvania. Illinois would fall to sixth under these projections and its representation in the House would equal that of Georgia and North Carolina.

So it would make sense for the Pritzker administration, perhaps with the assistance of Illinois’ top-notch universities, to embark on an unbiased deep dive into what’s driving Illinois’ population struggles.

How about leaving the partisanship and ideologies at the door and trying to develop a broader understanding of the problem? Reversing our population stagnation won’t happen without some sort of collective, bipartisan acknowledgment of the causes.

Obviously, it’s complicated, and Illinois is a state with major regional differences. What’s driving out-migration in Chicago isn’t going to be the same as what’s causing decline in rural parts of the state. We need to study both with equal fervor.

What sorts of policy changes would make Illinois a more attractive destination for those living elsewhere and looking for a change? How can Illinois benefit from immigration, and how can it help those migrants who are already here become more productive?

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Helpful areas of focus would include taxes and public safety, subjects conservative voices repeatedly reference. But the strategy should also include policies to improve our business environment, create new incentives for newcomers and companies alike, and invest in more and better marketing. That’s just for starters.

The point is, Illinois could use just that — a strategy. One informed by research and data and not tilted to achieve some preordained policy goals.

Easier said than done, we understand.

But as we and others have said over and over, Illinois’ strengths and attributes are enviable. Even our weather — long a negative over which we have no control — is proving, unfortunately for the planet, to be something of a selling point in an era of global warming.

Illinois is a great place to live. Let’s figure this out.

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