NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – One of the country's biggest moving companies now said there has been a major drop in the number of people moving to the Land of Enchantment in 2024. It's another indicator of slowing growth in New Mexico where population experts have predicted a slowdown. Story continues below Weather: Where is it snowing in New Mexico? Crime: Former New Mexico track coach who sexted with student sentenced to probation Don't Miss: New Mexico Racing Commission investigating All American Futurity race "Our population is getting older like most of the country and when people are getting older you have fewer births and more deaths," said University of New Mexico research scientist Jacquelin Miller, who focuses on population studies. Miller said the data indicates about new Mexico's future. She published a study last year forecasting very slow population growth in the state through 2035 followed by a decline. "That means that growth is more dependent on migration than it has been in our history," said Miller. New numbers from U-Haul indicate that growth has recently slowed. The company ranked New Mexico 37th, for the number of one-way trips moving into the state last year down 21 spots from 2023. That data aligns with a trend that UNM researchers have already seen over the last few years with more residents moving out of the state than coming in. Finance professor Reilly White said those leaving tend to be young adults moving into long-term careers. "We are seeing especially in these years a decline in our working age population as they often go elsewhere to seek job opportunities," said White. He said while the state continues producing a lot of college graduates, one of the challenges with keeping them here is the lack of high-paying jobs and variety of companies. "We lack a large number of private sector opportunities that exist in other states that would draw people in," said White. The city of Albuquerque said its expanded programs aimed at keeping people and companies here. It recently opened a new business center to help small startups find contracts and other help. "The business retention and expansion program about collaboration between the city, the state, and the county where they can come up with crafting different incentive programs to help businesses stay," said Gabriela Marquez, Director of Minority Business Development.