Considering moving to ATL (Atlanta, Marietta: relocating, jobs, business)

[plftz]

I am a musicician considering relocating to Atlanta to pursue musical interests. I am concerned about the high unemployment rate though, I read online it was about 14% in the city. I give guitar lessons and bartend so I can probably find a job anywhere but I am moving from Michigan so I am reluctant to move somewhere that the unemployment rate is actually higher. As a white male, will I experience job discrimination in a predominantly black city? Any thoughts you have on the matter would be very helpful. Thanks.

[BobKovacs]

Bear in mind that the 14% number you're seeing is probably for Atlanta proper- not the entire metro area. I can believe double-digit employment in the actual city of Atlanta (there's a high poor population there), but not in the overall metro area. I'm sure you'd do fine trying to find a bartending position somewhere in metro Atlanta, and guitar lessons would probably do OK too via Craigslist.

Bob

[plftz]

Thanks for the input. After I posted this, I looked at the U.S. Department of Labor statistics and they factor in the whole metro region, it was like 4%. That is actually pretty good. I will definetely be moving to ATL I was just startled by that stat on city-data.com. Thanks again.

[dncngrl1964]

Originally Posted by plftz

I am a musicician considering relocating to Atlanta to pursue musical interests. I am concerned about the high unemployment rate though, I read online it was about 14% in the city. I give guitar lessons and bartend so I can probably find a job anywhere but I am moving from Michigan so I am reluctant to move somewhere that the unemployment rate is actually higher. As a white male, will I experience job discrimination in a predominantly black city? Any thoughts you have on the matter would be very helpful. Thanks.

This isw an ATL proper number

the unemployment rate of metro ATL is only 4%

[Twinkletoes]

Plenty of musical jobs in Atlanta. We have lots of local bands. May I suggest that you consider living outside of downtown? Parents in certain areas pay big money for private music lessons for their children. It's a booming business here. You'll be driving back and forth across town anyway for gigs.

[Jandl]

Originally Posted by plftz

I am a musicician considering relocating to Atlanta to pursue musical interests. I am concerned about the high unemployment rate though, I read online it was about 14% in the city. I give guitar lessons and bartend so I can probably find a job anywhere but I am moving from Michigan so I am reluctant to move somewhere that the unemployment rate is actually higher. As a white male, will I experience job discrimination in a predominantly black city? Any thoughts you have on the matter would be very helpful. Thanks.

Just moved here from Lansing, MI a month ago. There are a lot of music stores on Cobb PKWY - Ken Stanton, Guitar Center just to name a few. The economy here is nothing at all like Michigan. Me and my husband have actually been able to get job interviews and a few of them sound very promising! We are also both white and I have not noticed racism issues being prevalent here. I am well aware that there are racism issues in Michigan from all ethnic groups. In fact, that's part of the reason why we left. I couldn't believe Granholm let the Nazi's rally at the Capitol - how sad.
My husband and 15 yr old son both want to take Guitar lessons, so when you get settled let me know. We live in Atlanta just on the edge of Marietta.

I wish you the best, you will definately love it here!