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I'm guessing that you still have a job, and that many of your friends do, too? And that you don't own a house or have kids? That's not necessarily the case, but let me tell you from personal experience that I have many friends who have either lost their jobs or have had hours reduced. There are many, many factors at work here, and the "choice" to remain unemployed doesn't look so much like a choice when you factor in the inabilty to sell a house in this market, the potential loss of affordable family help or daycare if you move to a new city where you have no family, and all sorts of other reasons that make a lot of sense. If anything, the unemployment rates are worse than they appear. If you are able and willing to move anywhere for a job then you are one of the lucky ones.
I don't disagree with the factors you spell out, however it doesn't come close to explaining the huge disparity in unemployment rates when some areas are begging for workers while others are begging for work.
Not everyone is THAT anchored to location these days to explain it. There's gotta be more.
Well there ARE jobs out there, but most people won't just up and move to any place in the country just for a job. Many people are tied to one area, be it that they're from there, they just love the city, etc.
I'm actually originally from the metro area on the list with the lowest unemployment in the country, Iowa City. Their unemployment rate and the number of unemployed people has actually been DROPPING the past few months.
They stand at 3.2% unemployed right now, but the characteristics of the city also play a big part. It's a college town of almost all white collar workers, around 32,000 working for the University of Iowa. Also a fast growing population, without being out of control like Phoenix or Florida also helps. It's grown by around 33% since 1990, and has the 3rd highest rank of college educated people in the country.
Look at areas that have a decent white collar economy, like Des Moines, Omaha, most all college towns.
You can find jobs, you just have to look a lot harder.
I'm actually surprised that 7 of the 9 metro areas in Iowa are actually in the top 6% nationally as far as low unemployment.
Exactly, It's sort of a situation of job saturation. There aren't a lot of jobs being lost, but not a lot of new jobs being created. So you have low unemployment, but not massive growth.
That's not to say there isn't growth, though (Iowa City is up 15% or so for the decade, I think).
Well there ARE jobs out there, but most people won't just up and move to any place in the country just for a job. Many people are tied to one area, be it that they're from there, they just love the city, etc.
I'm actually originally from the metro area on the list with the lowest unemployment in the country, Iowa City. Their unemployment rate and the number of unemployed people has actually been DROPPING the past few months.
They stand at 3.2% unemployed right now, but the characteristics of the city also play a big part. It's a college town of almost all white collar workers, around 32,000 working for the University of Iowa. Also a fast growing population, without being out of control like Phoenix or Florida also helps. It's grown by around 33% since 1990, and has the 3rd highest rank of college educated people in the country.
Look at areas that have a decent white collar economy, like Des Moines, Omaha, most all college towns.
You can find jobs, you just have to look a lot harder.
I'm actually surprised that 7 of the 9 metro areas in Iowa are actually in the top 6% nationally as far as low unemployment.
Very true. For instance in NY, Ithaca, which has Ivy League Cornell University and Ithaca College has the lowest unemployment rate of any of the NY State cities listed and is tied for 29th overall.
what if you are part of a couple and one is unemployed? it's not that easy to just pick and move for the out of work spouse, you'd be trading one out of work person for another.
Why do their rates remain so low? Wouldn't unemployment jump with the migration of new people there?
Let's get real and take the first 3 places:
1 Iowa City, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area 3.2
2 Ames, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area 3.6
2 Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 3.6
Have you ever seen a story in the NY Times, The Washington Post, LA Times, Chicago whatever paper is still standing, the Boston Globe or heard a national TV news personality speak of any of these places? Ever?
The American public is a victim of distorted elitist media coverage. I'm guessing there are people who work for the national news media who have never been to those places and therefore they think those places are unworthy of their attention because God forbid they'd ever have to actually go there to do a story. People aren't flocking to those places because they don't know about them/what's good about them. Omission in the National news media, in my opinion, is the biggest manifestation of bias. It's not Democrat or Republican. It's urban elitism. The problem is, most people only believe the junk they read and hear never dreaming there are other stories out there.
As a young college grad I'd like to relocate, but it's been difficult deciding where to relocate and finding reliable information about the economic status of cities. I can basically relocate anywhere I want in the US, but I'm hesitant because I don't know what's going to happen with the economy.
And personally, I don't want to move to a place where tons of young, educated professionals are going - it just makes competition more fierce and employment more saturated. For example, I've been contemplating Raleigh/Durham, but it seems many people who are out of work there are highly qualified and willing to take any job for now. So many people moved there over the last several years that it seems really oversaturated with qualified people. So, why would an employer consider someone like me from Pennsylvania with the same qualifications as local candidates in NC? I guess that's how I see it. But eventually, I'll need to make a move...
1 Iowa City, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area 3.2
2 Ames, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area 3.6
2 Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 3.6
Have you ever seen a story in the NY Times, The Washington Post, LA Times, Chicago whatever paper is still standing, the Boston Globe or heard a national TV news personality speak of any of these places? Ever?
The American public is a victim of distorted elitist media coverage. I'm guessing there are people who work for the national news media who have never been to those places and therefore they think those places are unworthy of their attention because God forbid they'd ever have to actually go there to do a story. People aren't flocking to those places because they don't know about them/what's good about them. Omission in the National news media, in my opinion, is the biggest manifestation of bias. It's not Democrat or Republican. It's urban elitism. The problem is, most people only believe the junk they read and hear never dreaming there are other stories out there.
Right, Iowa City is actually a fairly cultured place with a decent population and nice ammenities.
I love when I tell people I'm from Iowa City, and they're like "Ewww, I'd die. Did that like....totally suck?" I'm like "...noooo...we had plumbing and electricity....".
I love when I tell people I'm from Iowa City, and they're like "Ewww, I'd die. Did that like....totally suck?" I'm like "...noooo...we had plumbing and electricity...."
Good, now we're getting somewhere. Tell a person from the bay area or NYC to move to Amarillo (which I think is a nice town).
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