Birmingham has lowest unemployment rate in the nation (Hoover, Oxford: environment, real estate)

[Bravo35223]

Of all US metro areas with a population of at least 1 mllion people - Birmingham is #1 in the nation. This is an exerpt from this morning's Birmingham News:

The Birmingham-Hoover metro area last month recorded the lowest jobless rate among the nation's big cities - a double-edged indicator of economic strength and a tough hiring environment for employers.
The area's 2.7 percent unemployment rate in October was the lowest of any U.S. metro area with at least 1 million people, according to figures released Wednesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That figure is down from 3.3 percent a month earlier and 3 percent in October 2006. The only time the rate was lower was in April, when it sank to 2.4 percent.

[Socal2Bham]

Which has been a complete pain for me because it's a hard to find anyone when I'm hiring!

Recruiters won't negotiate as much either when the pickin's are slim so their rates seem to be higher.

[Bravo35223]

Originally Posted by Socal2Bham

Which has been a complete pain for me because it's a hard to find anyone when I'm hiring!

Recruiters won't negotiate as much either when the pickin's are slim so their rates seem to be higher.

Yes that is what the rest of the article discussed....how darn hard it is to find people to work....it is definitely a double edged sword as they also said it could hurt in recruiting new major employers bc there's no available labor pool....all used up.

[Socal2Bham]

It would help us to be more competitive in the current market if I could get them to step up the salary range. I push and push, sometimes I get my way, sometimes I don't.

[Threestep]

Originally Posted by Socal2Bham

It would help us to be more competitive in the current market if I could get them to step up the salary range. I push and push, sometimes I get my way, sometimes I don't.

What are you looking for?

[gustygulas]

well if you are hiring maybe we should start a job opening thread when you have a position that is open. That will give us a chance to notify our contacts that a position is open and it may save you some recruiting fees.

[Matiros]

Wonder what kind of jobs are hiring?? Here in Florida we have high unemployement and everyone is looking for work...lots of foreclosures.

[Bravo35223]

Originally Posted by lesliep11

Wonder what kind of jobs are hiring?? Here in Florida we have high unemployement and everyone is looking for work...lots of foreclosures.

Birmingham has a very low foreclosure rate compared to the rest of the nation. At the Chamber of Commerce Kickoff meeting last week, we had a local economist (degree from MIT) make a presentation on both the local and national economy.

The US now is officially in a recession, but Birmingham is not. Real estate prices here have only slipped .4% and while foreclosures are up, they are still well below the national average.

Who is hiring here? Restaurants would kill to find good people....construction companies are positively begging for skilled trademen and are paying top dollar. Nurses are in extremely high demand from area hospitals...

[marmac]

I think Birmingham (lowest rate) would make Detroit area jealous.

[Matiros]

I'll have to tell my two adult sons who were in construction here in Florida, and haven't been able to find descent employment to check out Birmingham.. They were both construction supervisors. They would love to get back into it.. they were both awarded all kinds of honors, etc. Wonder who/where they would apply?

We have been thinking of all selling our homes here and moving to Birmingham area. One son moved to Oxford, Ms, but is coming back here in a couple of weeks. I should tell him to stop in Birmingham. He was working for Carroll and Greene in Oxford. Another son is in Pittsburgh, PA this week job hunting.... Would be nice for them to find something they enjoy again.