[Jag_Je]

Keep in mind that Connecticut is one of the smallest states in area, but is still benefits from its proximity to NYC and other nearby states within NY metropolitan. It has great education and well known universities.

[Dallascaper]

Comparing CT to TX is laughable - CT is small potatoes compared to D/FW, much less all of Texas...

The point is that CT is a small state, and whatever "importance" it has will continue its century-long decline as the state falls behind in population. The only cards CT can play are its close proximity to NYC, an educated workforce, and natural beauty.

The negatives include a surprising neglect of urban areas, rampant cronyism and sense of entitlement that stifles economic innovation, and the natural flight of hard-working and educated people. CT has many other issues, but I am beating a dead horse...

[ColdAilment]

Originally Posted by EricS39

The high paying Texas jobs are concentrated in a handful of professions which include Oil and defense contracting, key persons in large retail chains whose products are made in China, and some shady hospital bonuses for offering patented prescription drugs to people who don't need it, that is coming out of Medicare trust fund. And some of this money is going into some ventures I'll admit such as electric power plants for cheap electricity.

The rest of the wages are low and otherwise the costs of living wouldn't be so low because if everyone in Texas got wealthier, there would be a buyer's real estate market and housing prices would not be so low. An increase in demand raises the equilibrium price that's basic economics.

Reality is wages are cheap for most people there, labor has no organized voice, and people don't have the community structure of New England in the least.

Austin is a good place to be but from there you have miles of nothing in every direction that will not change anytime soon.

The Texas metros are growing so fast that there is demand in just about every sector. Yes, you listed the key companies and concentrations of big revenue in Texas, but Houston especially has a large focus on the medical industry, offering some of the best hospitals in the country.

I'm curious what you mean by "community structure"?

Austin is a grand city, besides the horrendous traffic, but they are working on that with the introduction of some mass transit rail line some time very soon. Austin itself is a decent sized city. The entire metro area accounts for roughly half of the entire population of the state of Connecticut. Also, the Austin metro area nearly touches the San Antonio metro area which is very close in distance, and Houston isn't that far of a drive either, 1-2 hours easily. So this stuff about Austin being in the middle of nowhere is very misleading.

[Lalalally]

Heard on the news last night that going rate for entry level at North Dakota Wallmarts is $22.75!! Far cry from the new $10 point whatever minimum wage we were debating here on this forum a couple of weeks ago. North Dakota economy = good. CT = not so much

[ColdAilment]

Originally Posted by Lalalally

Heard on the news last night that going rate for entry level at North Dakota Wallmarts is $22.75!! Far cry from the new $10 point whatever minimum wage we were debating here on this forum a couple of weeks ago. North Dakota economy = good. CT = not so much

Seriously? Like the greeter or sales clerk is earning over $22 an hour?

[papafox]

They HAVE to pay that much for people to live somewhere so COLDDDD!!

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by ColdAilment

Seriously? Like the greeter or sales clerk is earning over $22 an hour?

I read that it was $17/hr. in Williston.

[Lalalally]

Originally Posted by ColdAilment

Seriously? Like the greeter or sales clerk is earning over $22 an hour?

Yup. Apparently unemployment rate is 2.something, which is effectively 0. - meaning anyone who wants a job can have one. Walmart is apparently having a hard time filling clerk positions, and so the statewide average rate is $22.75. Unreal!

[Lalalally]

Originally Posted by papafox

They HAVE to pay that much for people to live somewhere so COLDDDD!!

Yeah, but you could afford the heating bills

[ColdAilment]

Sad thing is, eventually the wages on those jobs will probably go down...by a lot. Then those people accustomed to those earnings will begin to suffer.