Low wages in Boise? (layoffs, to buy, store)

[truckingbronco]

There are decent paying jobs in Boise, but like others have said, they are few and far between. I was fortunate enough to relocate here because of work, but I have met many who have moved here for the town and hoped to find work and are still looking nearly a year later.

I know the economy is tough everywhere, but I have to think that Boise's best economic times are in the past...at least for the foreseeable future. HP, Micron, Boise Cascade, and Albertsons are shells of their former selves and it's likely at least one of the four will leave town all together in the next few years. MK, or whatever it's called now, is practically non-existent (I think just a small team of engineers is located here now). Idaho Timber has also lost workers. MPC and many other small firms have shut their doors. These are just the major corporations and doesn't even consider the neighborhoods and other businesses they support (think Columbia Village). We all know how real estate and other service jobs are doing.

Unfortunately, I don't see how Boise will replace these jobs. Most of the companies that I mentioned were founded in Boise and did not relocate here. Boise is just not a popular place for companies to relocate, with the recent exception being call centers. Does anyone really believe that multiple Fortune 500s will relocate to the Treasure Valley, and if you do, please explain why. Outside of HP, which has been cutting their workforce for years, I can't think of one major employer that has relocated a division or headquarters here.



That's just my pessimistic .02.

[boi2socal]

I remember for years there were always hot rumors and gossips of companies relocating to Boise. Even when things were fine in Boise. It seems Boise is always on a short list but never makes the final cut. I remember years ago Nike was having troubles in Oregon with the expansion of their headquarters and considered Boise among other cities. Supposedly, it would have brought 4-5k jobs. Well, Boise didn't make the final cut and I think they just ended up expanding at their HQs in Oregon. The whole thing was likely a threat in an attempt to get their hometown to relax zoning, lower taxes, etc. I'm very sure that is going on now as well because I highly doubt many companies have the capital or can get the financing to relocate at a large level.

[truckingbronco]

Originally Posted by boi2socal

I remember for years there were always hot rumors and gossips of companies relocating to Boise. Even when things were fine in Boise. It seems Boise is always on a short list but never makes the final cut. I remember years ago Nike was having troubles in Oregon with the expansion of their headquarters and considered Boise among other cities. Supposedly, it would have brought 4-5k jobs. Well, Boise didn't make the final cut and I think they just ended up expanding at their HQs in Oregon. The whole thing was likely a threat in an attempt to get their hometown to relax zoning, lower taxes, etc. I'm very sure that is going on now as well because I highly doubt many companies have the capital or can get the financing to relocate at a large level.

Hmmm, those threats to relocate remind me of a certain Boise company

[jwest09]

Yes, Boise wages are low. Yes, companies will probably not be locating to Boise any time soon, because of the recession. But who moves to Boise thinking they are going to make a ton of $$$ anyway??? The best economics for the Treasure Valley right now is in retirement communities. They create construction jobs, building homes, golf courses, bringing in residents and guests, from other areas of the U.S., spending money here in the valley. The area also needs more strip malls, with grocery stores out in the residential suburbs. One can see miles and miles of new homes, but no stores or eating establishments close by. This forces people to have to drive farther from their homes to the busiest streets like, Eagle or Caldwell Blvd. for services, more traffic than should be for a small population.

[Syringaloid]

Originally Posted by jwest09

Yes, Boise wages are low. Yes, companies will probably not be locating to Boise any time soon, because of the recession. But who moves to Boise thinking they are going to make a ton of $$$ anyway??? The best economics for the Treasure Valley right now is in retirement communities. They create construction jobs, building homes, golf courses, bringing in residents and guests, from other areas of the U.S., spending money here in the valley. The area also needs more strip malls, with grocery stores out in the residential suburbs. One can see miles and miles of new homes, but no stores or eating establishments close by. This forces people to have to drive farther from their homes to the busiest streets like, Eagle or Caldwell Blvd. for services, more traffic than should be for a small population.

Boise wages may be low if you don't have a job and have to settle for whatever comes by. I would bet, just bet that thousands upon thousands of people employed in Boise and the metro area make good wages. Some of you generalize way too much and try to make it sound like we all live on the poverty level and it simply is not true.

Just a hunch

[truckingbronco]

Originally Posted by Syringaloid

Boise wages may be low if you don't have a job and have to settle for whatever comes by. I would bet, just bet that thousands upon thousands of people employed in Boise and the metro area make good wages. Some of you generalize way too much and try to make it sound like we all live on the poverty level and it simply is not true.

Just a hunch

Really? I think most people on this thread have been balanced and many have stated that although there are decent jobs, they're just hard to find in relation to neighboring metro areas. Boise does have an economy, it's just not the one it used to have or the one the Chamber of Commerce likes to advertise, but we are not going to be turning into a poverty ridden "tent city" either.

[boi2socal]

Originally Posted by Syringaloid

Boise wages may be low if you don't have a job and have to settle for whatever comes by. I would bet, just bet that thousands upon thousands of people employed in Boise and the metro area make good wages. Some of you generalize way too much and try to make it sound like we all live on the poverty level and it simply is not true.

Just a hunch

And I think those people that don't have a job or are just "settling" would find this offensive...in Boise or anywhere else for that matter. Fact is, unemployment is 10% in the Boise Area...so that is 1 out of every 10 employable person has no work. My step dad has been looking for a year plus for a job that pays comparable to the job he's losing at Micron...none are in Boise or they require an extensive amount of qualifications and still pay less than what he makes now. But I'm sure he's not looking hard enough.

And nobody referenced poverty. Living paycheck to paycheck is not poverty but it can easily lead to it. Sure, now you can pay your bills but with no job or a pay cut you are in trouble. Why do you think the Boise Area has one of the higher foreclosure rates in the US? Twice the national average actually.

I'm not coming down on Boise, it is the only place I'd live other than where I'm at now. But to ignore hard facts and allude to Boise being a place with high wages and a better economy than the rest of the nation...well, that simply isn't true. As someone else stated Boise is great for retirees or someone that already has cash in hand and is looking for a great place to live. It is not great for job seekers unless you've already been awarded a position.

[Syringaloid]

Originally Posted by boi2socal

And I think those people that don't have a job or are just "settling" would find this offensive...in Boise or anywhere else for that matter. Fact is, unemployment is 10% in the Boise Area...so that is 1 out of every 10 employable person has no work. My step dad has been looking for a year plus for a job that pays comparable to the job he's losing at Micron...none are in Boise or they require an extensive amount of qualifications and still pay less than what he makes now. But I'm sure he's not looking hard enough.

And nobody referenced poverty. Living paycheck to paycheck is not poverty but it can easily lead to it. Sure, now you can pay your bills but with no job or a pay cut you are in trouble. Why do you think the Boise Area has one of the higher foreclosure rates in the US? Twice the national average actually.

I'm not coming down on Boise, it is the only place I'd live other than where I'm at now. But to ignore hard facts and allude to Boise being a place with high wages and a better economy than the rest of the nation...well, that simply isn't true. As someone else stated Boise is great for retirees or someone that already has cash in hand and is looking for a great place to live. It is not great for job seekers unless you've already been awarded a position.

I do not think anyone here including myself has said Boise is a city full of high wages but that there are plenty of jobs in Boise with high wages although they are hard to get unless you already have one. I also have not seen reference to Boise having a better economy than the rest of the nation either so I am not sure where you got that. But I will say the company I work for has a large center in Boise that is expanding and pays a living wage. The trouble is that many people getting these positions are being transferred from other Western states so that they can remain with the company and not lose their jobs and many of the people transferring to Boise want to live in Boise and get away from the cities they currently live in.

[boi2socal]

Originally Posted by Syringaloid

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I do not think anyone here including myself has said Boise is a city full of high wages but that there are plenty of jobs in Boise with high wages although [u]they are hard to get unless you already have one.

I guess I don't understand how a place does not have many high wages but there are plenty of them. And you're right, you've never explicitly said, "Boise has a better economy than the nation on average."

[CrownVic95]

Originally Posted by boi2socal

And I think those people that don't have a job or are just "settling" would find this offensive...

Agreed!