Current employment situation in El Paso/Midland/Odessa? (Houston, Dallas: teaching jobs, schools)

[HookTheBrotherUp]

I spoke to a relative this morning in Midland, and I was told that things are starting to get ugly in the Midland/Odessa area. These things have a history, and he can tell it is going to get bad.

We both have family in El Paso, so I asked him if he's talked to any family members in El Paso, he said no. So, we both were wondering if there have been any effects yet of the economy.

Maybe El Paso is shielded by what is happening elsewhere in the nation? Certainly El paso is not generally involved in the Oil and Gas business, except for Western Refining, so I would not think the price of oil would affect the city too much, if at all.

Speaking of Oil and Gas and El Paso (the city), when I lived there, we had Shell Oil Company, Exxon, Texaco, Standard Oil and Mobile, and of course El Paso, the energy company. How things have changed!

[Gary Siete]

I'm optimistic that El Paso will weather the recession better than other areas of the country. Midland/Odessa is more of a boom/bust area dependent on oil demand. El Paso's major employment sectors are Military, Government, Education, & Health services that are more recession proof - but Dallas did recently lay off 1000's of teachers. My understanding is that manufacturing employent in Juarez has been on the decline for at least a year... but you wuldn't know it by the lines & the bridge and the crowds at the mall.

[piyf]

Originally Posted by HookTheBrotherUp

I spoke to a relative this morning in Midland, and I was told that things are starting to get ugly in the Midland/Odessa area. These things have a history, and he can tell it is going to get bad.

We both have family in El Paso, so I asked him if he's talked to any family members in El Paso, he said no. So, we both were wondering if there have been any effects yet of the economy.

Maybe El Paso is shielded by what is happening elsewhere in the nation? Certainly El paso is not generally involved in the Oil and Gas business, except for Western Refining, so I would not think the price of oil would affect the city too much, if at all.

Speaking of Oil and Gas and El Paso (the city), when I lived there, we had Shell Oil Company, Exxon, Texaco, Standard Oil and Mobile, and of course El Paso, the energy company. How things have changed!

And there's a pipeline that comes from Houston all the way to Montana Ave with millions of gallons of Diesel and Gasoline.

Pipeline from there to here holds over 63 million gals of different grades of gas and diesel.

With that said regular gas in Houston can be had for over 40 cents cheaper than here.

[Mayania]

El Paso is growing like crazy especially over here on the far eastside where I reside. As far as jobs are concerned it really depends on your field. Teachers are needed like crazy as schools continue to be built. Nursing is also a high demand field. There is an abudance of retail jobs as stores and food chains continue to open. So I would say managerial jobs should be quite easy to come by. I remember the days of all the oil plants here. My father worked for Texaco that became El Paso Refinery then Chevron purchsed it and it is now Western Refinery luckily he retired while it was Chevron. It is a great growing city, the growth of Fort Bliss is also going to create many jobs as well.

[Muhnay]

Originally Posted by Mayania

It is a great growing city, the growth of Fort Bliss is also going to create many jobs as well.

That is a myth, and a false statement. The number of jobs created will not be greater than the number of people moving here. So there will be a bigger deficit in employment.

[drifter4ever]

I hope the El Paso Job situation stays strong. I check on sites like careerbuilder and see plenty of jobs available but very few with living wages. I guess If I want to move back I'll have to accept lower wages.

[Caltep]

I was talking to someone and we were wondering if all of these trailing spouses (male or female) are coming here with Bliss expansion, and they are educated (at least Bachelor's), will there be jobs for them here? Will they really want the retail, restaurant, and minimum wage jobs which are in abundance as opposed to a professional position?

Oh...as much as folks may say there is a plethora of teaching jobs here, not essentially true (except in specific specialties). Especially in primary grades. Everyone knows someone with a primary teaching degree who cannot get a job.

[Muhnay]

Originally Posted by drifter4ever

I hope the El Paso Job situation stays strong. I check on sites like careerbuilder and see plenty of jobs available but very few with living wages. I guess If I want to move back I'll have to accept lower wages.

A job that pays below a living wage is not a job at all.. your working for nothing, and there for cant live on what they pay, and you end up having to leave to get work else where, or work 3 jobs and have no life outside of work just to survive.. so there are no jobs in El Paso.

[lipbalm]

EP does lack good paying jobs in every field and proffession. That's why I left, but I could have stayed and done "alright" though not "great". I guess I am too greedy

[Six Foot Three]

I wonder if Midland/Odessa will suffer if oil keeps dropping. Also Hobbs and Artesia in eastern New Mexico depend on oil jobs as Farmington in northeast New Mexico depends on Natural Gas to keep them afloat.

Boom and bust.....boom and bust for these cities!!