Oil-heavy states see median ages fall

The median average age of United States residents increased last year, but states with large oil and gas industries saw decreases as young workers flock to those areas.

Most energy states’ age declines were minuscule, lead by Alaska, which fell to 33.246 years old on average from 33.606, the Associated Press reported Thursday, citing Census Bureau figures. Williams County, N.D., the center of the Bakken formation drilling boom, saw a drop of 1.6 years in 2013 from 2012, the largest decline of any county.

{mosads}Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming, were also younger in 2013 than they were in 2012, AP said.

Census Bureau Director John Thompson told AP that as more workers seek employment in oil and gas, those areas’ populations trend younger and more male.

Meanwhile, the youngest of the baby boomers are hitting their 50s, so the population as a whole averaged 37.6 years, up from 2012’s 37.5 years.