This special report analyzes patterns of migration in and out of New York State from 1980 to 1985, based on the "Current Population Survey: Annual Demographic File, 1985" and a mail survey of current and former New York residents. A brief summary and analysis of population loss during the 1970s is discussed. Data are presented from the research inquiry, which attempted to answer the following questions: (1) is the population loss continuing; (2) what factors motivate people to move in and out of the state; (3) what do interstate migrants see as the positive and negative aspects of New York as compared to other states; and (4) what implications do these migration patterns have for public policy. The findings are that the population increased by 1.3 percent between 1980 and 1985. Half of these migrants were from places other than the other 49 states. People moved into New York mostly because of the attractive employment opportunities in the state. Negative attributes of New York, as compared to other states, were the cost and availability of housing, taxes, transportation, and the environment for raising children. Detailed answers to the research questions are presented in 20 tables. The two appendices contain tables showing (1) estimates of the resident population of each of the states as of July 1, 1985, and (2) the population change for New York State by county between 1980 and 1985. (VM)