Young professionals love Buffalo Niagara, but some are afraid they won't be as successful here as they could be elsewhere. That's according to a survey released Monday by the Buffalo Niagara Partnership and its young professional program, BN360.

With the local population of young professionals projected to trend downward, the group is focused on helping its members recruit, develop and retain young talent in Western New York.

"We've got our work cut out for us," said Grant Loomis, vice president of government affairs at the Partnership.

The data is based on survey responses from 326 people ages 25 to 34, many of them BN360 members, and may not be representative of the local population at large.

The Partnership will use the results to help shape its programming and what it communicates to employers and the public sector, it said.

Though 97 percent of respondents said they would recommend the region to others, and 88 percent said they could see themselves remaining in Buffalo 10 years from now, just 76 percent said they believe there is opportunity for career growth here.