34th Annual Demographic Workshop

The Seismic Generational Shift

Overview July 6, 2023

Presented by the Southern California Association of Governments and the University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy.

The 34th Annual Demographic Workshop, “The Seismic Generational Shift,” brought together the region’s leading demographers and population experts, as well as more than 400 attendees from the public and private sectors, to discuss Southern California’s shifting demographics and their implications for housing, transportation, and sustainability.

A highlight of the program was the release of SCAG’s assessment of the American Community Survey (ACS) data for 2022. This report looks at the shifts and constants of post-COVID Southern California, providing insights into the demographic, economic and housing trends between 2019 and 2022. Event speakers discussed this analysis, spotlighting slower population growth and high housing costs across the region. Another major focus was the generational shift occurring throughout the region, and how it stands to redefine politics, culture, technology and the economy.

Registration for the Demographic Workshop is now closed.

Keynote Speaker

JEAN M. TWENGE, PH.D.

Author & Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University

Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D. is a professor of psychology at San Diego State University and the author of more than 180 scientific publications and seven books, including “Generations: The Real Differences between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers and Silents—and What They Mean for America’s Future.” She holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from the University of Chicago, as well as a doctorate from the University of Michigan.

Agenda

TIME	AGENDA
8:30 a.m.	REGISTRATION & NETWORKING
9:00 a.m.	WELCOMING REMARKS
9:20 a.m.	PANEL 1: DEMOGRAPHIC CHECK-UP Southern California is undergoing a seismic generational shift that is reshaping society. Looking at demographic trends in Southern California and other regions helps us understand the interconnected network of people and places and how large regions confer economic benefits. This panel will discuss continuing trends with the latest data, sharing insights on the future of the region and state’s population, showcasing the growing generational gaps in homeownership and highlighting the roles of aging and diversity across decades. MODERATOR: Beth Jarosz, Program Director of U.S. Programs, Population Reference Bureau David Moctezuma, Doctoral Researcher, University of Southern California Population Dynamics Research Group Walter Schwarm, Ph.D., Demographer, California Department of Finance Demographic Research Unit
10:10 a.m.	PANEL 2: A LOOK THROUGH THE DATA WINDOW Data sources, infrastructure and methods provide windows into knowing about people and place. This panel will discuss the state’s new housing data infrastructure and how the digitalization of housing market information has reshaped home searches, and take a look at parallel demographic trends outside the state. MODERATOR: Conni Pallini-Tipton, Senior City Planner, City of Los Angeles Geoff Boeing, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Director, Urban Data Lab, University of Southern California Department of Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis Elizabeth Garner, Colorado State Demographer, Colorado Department of Local Affairs Tim Parham, Data and Innovation Unit Chief, California Department of Housing and Community Development
10:55 a.m.	BREAK
11:10 a.m.	PANEL 3: BALANCING GENERATIONAL CHANGE WITH WORK AND HOUSING Southern California’s population has declined since 2020, based in part on COVID-related disruptions but also because of longstanding trends. Employment has bounced back strongly from COVID-era lows, economic news is mostly getting better and housing production in the region—while well below all-time records—is at a nearly two-decade high. This panel will look at generational change through the lens of the regions’ housing and jobs: Which demographic factors are behind the current labor shortage and what can we expect as the nation ages? Will housing stock grow enough to house workers when many homes have no workers (such as retirees)? And will the economic gains of big region advantages be shared across class, race and generations? MODERATOR: Kome Ajise, Executive Director, SCAG Max Buchholz, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, UCLA Department of Urban Planning Diana Elliot, Vice President of U.S. Programs, Population Reference Bureau Dowell Myers, Ph.D., Professor and Director, Population Dynamics Research Group, University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy
12:00 p.m.	KEYNOTE Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D., Author and Professor of Psychology, San Diego State University
12:30 p.m.	LUNCH
1:15 p.m.	KEYNOTE Q&A SESSION
2:00 p.m.	ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS Understanding Your Community Through the American Community Survey The American Community Survey (ACS) serves as the foundation for numerous planning efforts—from travel modeling to regional housing need determinations. This roundtable will cover the fundamentals of the ACS, new topics that are being added, demonstrations of how to access the data and resources for staying up to date. Facilitator: Beth Jarosz, Program Director of U.S. Programs, Population Reference Bureau Understanding Place in Southern California with SCAG RDP Tools SCAG hosts and curates a breath of data on its Regional Data Platform (RDP). This roundtable showcases how you can use the RDP tools to understand place in Southern California – from region to city to neighborhood – on a variety of topics. By walking you through the applications of these tools, we explore the challenges and opportunities in the regional economy, housing development, local demographic and socioeconomic conditions, and trips and travel patterns in both tabular and spatial formats. Facilitators: Lyle Janicek, Senior Regional Planner, SCAG Gigi Moreno, Ph.D., Senior Economist, SCAG Tom Vo, Principal Planner, SCAG Echo Zheng, Ph.D., Assistant Planner, SCAG Opportunities and Challenges: L.A. Public Schools and Enrollment Facilitators: Mary Ehrenthal Prichard, Chief Enrollment Analysis Coordinator, L.A. Unified School District Ross Friedman, Demographic Research and Planning Analyst II, L.A. Unified School District

Workshop Videos

Workshop Photos

American Community Survey 2022 Data Release

This report examines new data from the American Community Survey to provide insights into how demographic, economic and housing trends in Southern California have changed between 2019 and 2022—and what has stayed the same.