On Saipan, empty classrooms and quiet streets whisper a sobering truth: NMI is losing its youth. Between 2010 and 2020, the population plunged from around 53,883 to just 47,329—a drop driven largely by young people chasing stability and opportunity offshore.
Former legislator Tina Sablan summed up the cycle driving that exodus.
“A lot of it is a function of the economy,” she said. “We’ve been through a series of booms and busts.”
Those busts include the collapse of the garment industry, the pandemic’s blow to tourism, and the decline of the casino sector—all of which destabilized jobs and left many families uncertain about their futures.
For some, leaving was the only option.
“The situation on Saipan has been difficult lately… All our children have moved to the US mainland,” Victor Tuquero, who relocated with his wife to Guam after decades of running a construction business on Saipan, said.“They found jobs there.”
Others echo that sense of forced migration. Although he hopes to return home someday, Alex Escano, who moved with his family to Texas, explained similar points.
“There’s a lot of opportunities here…” he said. “If it’s for my family, I will do everything.” Education officials stress the urgency of developing local young talent to fill the void left by declining foreign labor, emphasizing that the next generation represents the NMI’s future economic workforce.
However, policymakers warn that the challenges are urgent. Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero (D) cautioned that NMI could lose half of its workforce within seven years if foreign labor cuts and visa restrictions go unaddressed. Immigration attorney Bruce Mailman noted that CW-1 visas, which sustain key industries like healthcare and construction, will fall from 13,000 to just 5,000 by 2029.
The question is no longer whether young people are leaving, but what it would take to keep them—or bring them back. That may mean diversifying the economy beyond tourism, improving healthcare access, and expanding higher education opportunities. Looking ahead, leaders are exploring new ways to anchor opportunities at home. Northern Marianas College is expanding programs to prepare students for careers in healthcare, business, and technology. Renewable energy projects are being discussed as a way to lower costs and create local jobs, while the rise of remote work offers a chance to connect NMI workers to global markets without leaving the islands. If these efforts succeed, they could give the next generation a reason to stay—transforming migration from an inevitability into a choice.
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