The trend of homegrown Wisconsin residents staying in the state for their entire adult lives is being replaced by a new phenomenon among University of Wisconsin graduates.

According to the Pew Research Center study “American Mobility: Who Moves? Who Stays Put? Where’s Home?” people from Wisconsin are some of the country’s most immobile citizens and are likely to spend their life in one community, often remaining in one of the state’s many small towns.

“People appear to like living in small towns,” said Dan Veroff, director of the University of Wisconsin Applied Population Lab. “Small communities are a good place to raise a family and generally provide a better education than, say, a Chicago public school.”

Having lived in a number of states, Veroff said from an outsider’s point of view, “things work pretty well here in Wisconsin.”

Contributing to small-town Wisconsin’s desirability is its system of strong local governments and the willingness of citizens to participate in local government to help maintain a sense of community, Veroff added.

In collaboration with this small-town appeal, Wisconsin’s median age further contributes to the state’s immobility.

“The Census Bureau in Wisconsin established that the median age is 37.7,” said Dave Egan, state demographer. “The nationwide median age is 37.4, which doesn’t sound like a large difference but adds up.”

Egan said people in Wisconsin often stay in one location since older age groups are less likely to relocate.

While peoples’ efforts to maintain small-town culture helps to keep citizens in the state, the job market seems to be driving young UW graduates to start their careers elsewhere.

The state currently exports more college graduates than it imports, spurring concern over a potential “brain drain” from Wisconsin to other states.

Veroff said according to research done by the UW’s LaFollette School of Public Affairs, there is an annual net of 7,000 people with bachelor’s degrees leaving Wisconsin, often as a result of the state’s lack of information and technology industry jobs.

To put an end to the problem, the Wisconsin Alumni Association has formed a partnership with Competitive Wisconsin Inc., encouraging UW graduates to return to the state to live and work.

Since its debut, the partnership has already conducted various surveys. Among its data, the group found more than half of alumni respondents would consider moving back to Wisconsin.

That number was even higher for alumni who lived in the state before attending UW.

To encourage graduates to move back to the state, WAA is holding various career fairs throughout the region.

The first event was held in Minnesota in October, and attracted around 50 alumni and featured representative of 12 companies, according to Gina Evans, WAA careers and corporate relations specialist.

“UW produces smart workers,” Evans said. “It feeds the Wisconsin economy.”