Specific ? about jobs in Greenville and Spartanburg

[Oogax3Girl]

You definitely can find a 9-5 job making 30k. You might even be able to make more than that.

And at that income, that's fairly doable in SC.

The only thing is... a lot of people are losing jobs, so you might be a less favorable hire than an SC native. =/

[NewYorkBorn]

Hello Repunzll,

I moved from New York City to South Carolina 2 years ago, transferred with a Pharmaceutical company that I had worked for 5 years. Live here in Greenville, SC, beautiful homes and the living is good as long as you move with a job already waiting for you when you arrive.

Money definitely stretches a lot farther here due to the much lower cost of living. Things have been great here for me until I was laid off December 2008. Now I feel the need to warn people about some things that I did not consider before relocating to South Carolina.

1) The state of South Carolina has one of the highest un-employment rates in the US.
2) Yes, you will be able to find a $30,000 a year job here but when you are not from South Carolina it becomes harder to find work. They tend to keep job openings for their friends and family members to take.
3) Make sure you have several thousand dollars in the bank because the employment opportunities are limited here.

I have heard several people that were born and raised in Greenville say that a lot of progress has been made within the last 10 years here. I definitely see the potential here but at the same time I have learned that progress comes to South Carolina very slowly.

Good luck.

[Greenville]

Originally Posted by NewYorkBorn

Hello Repunzll,

I moved from New York City to South Carolina 2 years ago, transferred with a Pharmaceutical company that I had worked for 5 years. Live here in Greenville, SC, beautiful homes and the living is good as long as you move with a job already waiting for you when you arrive.

Money definitely stretches a lot farther here due to the much lower cost of living. Things have been great here for me until I was laid off December 2008. Now I feel the need to warn people about some things that I did not consider before relocating to South Carolina.

1) The state of South Carolina has one of the highest un-employment rates in the US.
2) Yes, you will be able to find a $30,000 a year job here but when you are not from South Carolina it becomes harder to find work. They tend to keep job openings for their friends and family members to take.
3) Make sure you have several thousand dollars in the bank because the employment opportunities are limited here.

I have heard several people that were born and raised in Greenville say that a lot of progress has been made within the last 10 years here. I definitely see the potential here but at the same time I have learned that progress comes to South Carolina very slowly.

Good luck.

I'm not sure how true your statements are, but with regard to #2, that is not unique to Greenville. Most jobs in America are filled as a result of "insider" knowledge. Many jobs are filled as a result of someone in the company telling a friend about the pending opening, or someone having a connection to the company somehow (perhaps even a current employee getting promoted). That's the way the world works. It's not some good 'ol boy network in Greenville trying to keep out non-natives.

Employment opportunities are more limited everywhere lately, but based on the numbers they are not any less available in Greenville than they are anywhere else.

Finally, you are using a broad brush to stereotype all of South Carolina as progressing more slowly than other places. For the 185172nd time, South Carolina is not the same throughout. There are different areas, both large and small, with different economies, different people, different strengths, and different weaknesses. Is New York City the same as Long Island? Is Long Island the same as Albany? Using your logic, they must be since they are all in the same state.

[g-man430]

Think happy thoughts, think happy thoughts.

[NewYorkBorn]

Imma,

I read your post and you are absolutely right about what you said. People should beware before they are lured to Greenville with the promises of the "cheaper cost of living"!! As you said the cheaper cost of living is that way because the wages paid for the jobs here are horrible. Most of the people I have met here make between $7.00 - $11.00 per hour at their jobs if they are lucky enough to still have one. As far as I am concerned those wages are barely enough for one person to survive on much less adding in caring for children and the bills in the house.

The economy in South Carolina in general and specifically Greenville is dependent on manufacturing/textile/factory work. I would tell anyone interested in moving here that if they do not have experience working in factories or working in a hospital then do not move here!

Greenville is a beautiful area but underneath that is a whole lot of people living way below the poverty line here. I see it everyday!

[skaternum]

Originally Posted by Oogax3Girl

You definitely can find a 9-5 job making 30k. You might even be able to make more than that.

I wouldn't make such a blanket statement without knowing something about the OP. What sort of education does she have? What actual work experience does she have? (I.e., what did she do for the convention center?) Like a lot of things in life, I think the answer is, "It depends."