A report by The Center Square’s Christen Smith spells out the concerns in stark numbers: A majority of Pennsylvanians between the ages of 18 and 44 recently surveyed have considered or are considering relocating to another state.

When asked why they consider leaving, the top reason cited was tax rates and the cost of living. The second most-cited concern was crime. The third most-cited concern was the lack of job opportunities.

That these issues are among the top motivations for young families to leave our state is disappointing — but not surprising. We’ve called on our lawmakers, county and municipal leaders and other stake-holders to address these concerns too many times to count.

Smith acknowledges that lawmakers agree stemming the loss of population is Pennsylvania’s biggest challenge — “one that must be conquered to prevent further economic ruin.”

And so we still hope that this time, this survey by the Commonwealth Foundation and reporting on it by the Center Square might finally be the wake-up call we need to substantively address these issues.

Because, while there is room for improvement on each of these issues, our state also is not by any means the worst state with regards to each of them. Because our state still offers that most American of virtues: Choice. We have bustling cities and rural townships and everything in between. We have a diverse economy that supports, we believe, an unrivaled selection of career paths.

We all know that Pennsylvania needs a lower tax burden on working families, more affordable housing, less crime and more jobs.

We believe we also all know that what Pennsylvania offers — from the East Coast cosmopolitanism of Philadelphia to the Appalachian traditionalism of Washington County and the rich variety between — is worth the hard work in finding solutions to taxes, housing, crime and job creation.