Mecklenburg Metro Area Unemployment rises above 12% (Charlotte: transplants, mortgage, find a job)

[lumbollo]

According to New Figures Released today, the NC Employment Security commission says the official unemployment in the Charlotte metro area has risen to 12.1%. Keep in mind they include anyone who has gotten paid for almost anything so the real employment is much worse here.

If you are considering moving here, and don't have a job, you should pay attention to this situation. We are the worst in the state metro areas and it doesn't appear to be getting better despite the happy talk in the papers and chamber of commerce.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by lumbollo

According to New Figures Released today, the NC Employment Security commission says the official unemployment in the Charlotte metro area has risen to 12.1%. Keep in mind they include anyone who has gotten paid for almost anything so the real employment is much worse here.

If you are considering moving here, and don't have a job, you should pay attention to this situation. We are the worst in the state metro areas and it doesn't appear to be getting better despite the happy talk in the papers and chamber of commerce.

And that's just the "official" number, estimates are that in reality the number may be closer to 17%.

I will be so glad to no longer be in those numbers one day!!!

[anifani821]

Lumbollo - I really appreciate your posting this info - I had missed it.

I don't think anyone is listening, tho. I continue to be shocked at how people are flooding to this area - without jobs - and they will argue that they are gonna be different. For some weird reason, they think when we advise not to come without a job that we believe they will snag a job one of us would have gotten, lol. That is the most inane thought process . . . if someone is gonna get the job "from out of town," they will get it b/c they were the most qualified. Period. But most of those types of jobs are handled by recruiters, anyway, and not even known about to the man on the street.

When you have 2000 applicants for just a handful of openings, that pretty much sends a signal that it is nearly impossible to find a job here right now.

Sure, we hear stories about folks getting jobs, but as I said earlier . . . with so many applicants, in most cases, the chances are 250:1 or worse that you will even get an interview.

But no one is listening.

[am2]

Its grim now but think a business friendly place like here will turn it around down the road.

[lumbollo]

Originally Posted by anifani821

Lumbollo - I really appreciate your posting this info - I had missed it.

I don't think anyone is listening, tho. I continue to be shocked at how people are flooding to this area - without jobs - and they will argue that they are gonna be different. For some weird reason, they think when we advise not to come without a job that we believe they will snag a job one of us would have gotten, lol. That is the most inane thought process . . . if someone is gonna get the job "from out of town," they will get it b/c they were the most qualified. Period. But most of those types of jobs are handled by recruiters, anyway, and not even known about to the man on the street. .......

Yes Indeed. I suppose that experience is going to be an tough teacher to many on this. I have relatives in Myrtle Beach, a place that is much worse off than Charlote, and there are still a ton of people moving there for the same thing. I can't imagine the though process behind this kind of thinking. If I had a job somewhere I certainly wouldn't give it up to move to a place that is shedding jobs like we are.

[pink caddy]

Originally Posted by anifani821

Lumbollo - I really appreciate your posting this info - I had missed it.

I don't think anyone is listening, tho. I continue to be shocked at how people are flooding to this area - without jobs - and they will argue that they are gonna be different.

But no one is listening.

Reminds me of:

Customer in restaurant:
"So how's the fish tonite?"

Waiter: "Not fresh tonite sorry. I'd recommend something else"

Customer: "OK, think I'll have the fish"

[GO PANTHERS!!]

There are always going to be people moving around in any economic climate. There are people leaving Charlotte as well.

And when people are moving to Charlotte I doubt their going to take the advice of some commoner on a message board that anyone can get onto and post.

Also, regardless of how you think the economic climate is here. There are still people moving here and finding jobs. Yes many that can't, but still some that do.

Also, the money they do bring down stretches a lot further here. So they can last longer here without work then up there.

Aaaaannnnd, THEY'RE BRINGING MONEY WITH THEM! more money in Charlotte means better economy in Charlotte. The best economic builder is bringing new money in. If you're bringing in more money than you're sending out, you'll eventually turn things around. Unlike the federal government who has us dependent on foreign products and has run off much of our American made products and export business'....

[CouponJack]

Originally Posted by lumbollo

Yes Indeed. I suppose that experience is going to be an tough teacher to many on this. I have relatives in Myrtle Beach, a place that is much worse off than Charlote, and there are still a ton of people moving there for the same thing. I can't imagine the though process behind this kind of thinking. If I had a job somewhere I certainly wouldn't give it up to move to a place that is shedding jobs like we are.

I hear you about transplants moving and such, but there are plenty of people (especially older) that did not lose their shirt in the stock market and have plenty of money to be comfortable retiring on. I know many do not believe it or can't relate, but its true.

I just want to make the point not EVERYONE is underwater or has a mortgage that they cannot afford (or in financial trouble for that matter)

These people DO NOT make the news because many of them didn't take excessive risk throughout their life...there financial history is quite boring if you ask alot of them....

Don't think I'm downplaying the problem, but I just want to make it clear that the bad news always gets more ink then the good news in any type of situation.....

[lumbollo]

^I didn't include retirees in my statement. I am talking about such things as young couples with kids giving up jobs to move south in search of something better in the South. There isn't anything better here which is the point. If people don't need to work then what I said doesn't apply to them as this is a topic about unemployment.

[Metallisteve]

Originally Posted by GO PANTHERS!!

...

It's amazing that we can be 180 degrees separated on one thread, but on the same page on another. Huh...