Gen Z discovers adventure and opportunity in the New North
When Sterling Feathers received a job offer from an Appleton business, he couldn’t wait to accept.
A native of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, he was familiar with Green Bay and Appleton since he frequently visited while growing up. Living in Lower Michigan when he got the call, Feathers was excited for the opportunity to relocate.
He’s not alone. Seth Hatherly grew up in North Carolina and attended college there. A devout Green Bay Packers’ fan, he went all in to get a job with the NFL’s only community-owned franchise. After originally working in the Packers Pro Shop, he’s now an intern with the Green Bay Packers front office of the Retail Business Operations Department.
“Living in the New North, Wisconsin and the Midwest has many benefits. The people, pace of life, amenities, activities, etc. are all amazing parts of living here,” he said.
Members of Generation Z, Feathers and Hatherly are not alone. Three communities in the New North — Oshkosh (No. 2), Appleton (No. 8) and Sheboygan (No. 9) — were listed among the Top 25 Best Cities for Gen Z workers, according to a survey by Checkr.
Checkr, a San Francisco company that specializes in conducting background checks on job applicants, used data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis to determine the best U.S. cities for Gen Z workers based on employment, affordability and social aspects.
According to Checkr, the seven key metrics for Gen Z include unemployment rate, labor force participation rate, income-to-rent ratio, percentage of renters paying less than 30% of their income in rent, real personal income, Gen Z portion of the population and Gen Z member per entertainment establishment.
Feathers isn’t surprised New North communities ranked so high.
“The people here are friendly, there’s lots of stuff to do and it’s filled with opportunities,” he says. “My wife and I can’t envision ever leaving.”
Using 2020 U.S. Census data to track where members of Gen Z were moving to, a study from Realtor.com said the Midwest saw a larger influx of these younger workers than other parts of the country. Members of Gen Z are financially savvy and realize living in the Midwest, especially in small- and medium-sized cities, is a smart move.
And, according to the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, more than 90% of Wisconsin’s net migration comes from young adults between the ages of 18 and 26.
Eric Broten, vice president of business and growth development with the Fox Cities Chamber, said the region has a lot to offer Gen Zers, including amazing job opportunities. “We have a lot of great companies looking to hire,” he said. “These are good, well-paying jobs.”
Beyond being a great place to launch a career, the area has many things to do from cultural activities, including touring Broadway shows at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton, to vibrant downtowns with unique restaurants and retailers.
“Then, there’s the outdoors where you can pretty much do anything you want to do, whether it’s fishing, biking, hiking, golfing — the list goes on,” Broten said.
He also pointed to quality schools, overall safety and low cost of living as other positive attributes to living in the region.
Hatherly, who grew up in a small town of 350 in rural western North Carolina where most things were a two-hour drive away, loves how accessible and close everything is in the New North.
“Living in Green Bay is quite the change when it comes to population, geography and amenities. A quick drive up north takes you to Door County which is a beautiful peninsula, then heading down south will land you in Oshkosh, Milwaukee and beyond which is a great place to go to concerts, take day trips, watch professional sports, discover new eateries, and much more,” he said.
 Seth Hatherly goes fishing in the Bay of Green Bay. Watch videos of Seth exploring the New North on our Find Your True North page. |
 Sterling Feathers tries ice skating at The Plaza at Gateway Park in Neenah. Watch a video of Sterling on ice on at Find Your True North. |
Mary Beth Matzek
Owner, 1BizzyWriter
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