The number of North Dakota workers under age 35 has grown by more than 2,000 each year from 2004 to 2006, a state group says.

The North Dakota Census Committee said the figures were taken from the Local Employment Dynamics program, an effort involving the Census Bureau and state employment agencies to analyze the state's labor force.

Since 2000, the overall number of workers in North Dakota's labor force has grown by about 12,000, the group said in a statement.

State officials say the change reflects North Dakota's economic growth and a demand for workers. North Dakota has been trying to stem an exodus of young people.

"We simply were losing lots of young people," said Kevin Iverson a research analyst at the Labor Market Information Center of Job Service North Dakota. "It's kind of a nice story to turn around."

Fargo and Bismarck are seeing most of the growth in young workers, though their numbers are increasing around the state, the Census Committee said.

North Dakota's quality of life and a desire to raise children in the state have helped boost the state's work force, said Brian Walters, president of the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corp.

Craig and Trina Michels moved to St. Cloud, Minn., so Craig, now 25, could get a job in architecture.

Eighteen months later, a job opportunity brought them back, and they don't plan to leave.

"We definitely wanted to raise our family in North Dakota," said Trina Michels, 23, a native of Napoleon and a credit analyst at Cornerstone Bank in Fargo.

"We always wanted to stay. We're very fortunate and glad that we're able to come back and find positions."