Indiana Unemployment at 4.6%. No jobs?? (Indianapolis, Fort Wayne: best cities, insurance, job market)

[Finance Guy]

Hi folks,

I am confused. I have been thinking of relocating to Indiana because in my previous visits I have always thought Indiana would be a nice place to work and live. With Michigan's job market being the worst in the nation with unemployment at 7.7%, I find it hard to believe that Hoosiers have problems finding work in an economy with an unemployment rate of just 4.6%. Indiana is almost in a median position among the other 49 states, and is 3.1% better than Michigan. I work in finance with specific background in insurance, financial consulting/analysis, and investments. Seems like there would be good opportunities for someone like myself in Indiana since there are over 179 Insurance companies and plenty of banks and other financial institutions or companies that hire people with my background. So what's the real scoop in Indiana? Are the people in Indiana who are struggling to find jobs recent college grads with little experience or is it something else? Please help me to determine if I would be able to find suitable employment in Indiana. I think it is a great state.

Thanks!

[M TYPE X]

There should be plenty of finance jobs still in Indy for you.

[Finance Guy]

Thanks for the reply, I am thinking of coming down after the first of the year. I need to get in contact with some employers/recruiters and see what I can put together. If anyone has any suggestions for me as far as a sensible approach to pulling this off, let me know. Thanks in advance.

[Finance Guy]

Also.....which specific cities present the best opportunities? (I am looking for a list of the top 5 or 10 cities for opportunities in Finance/Business from best to worst) Thanks again!

--Your friendly neighbor from the North.

[domergurl]

There's still a small version of what's left of the former bigger than big Conseco in Carmel.

[Finance Guy]

Originally Posted by domergurl

There's still a small version of what's left of the former bigger than big Conseco in Carmel.

Has Conseco downsized or something? They have had such a huge presence in Indiana that I can't see that changing, but I guess anything is possible. Have a lot of finance jobs left the state?

[domergurl]

Well, not so much anymore, their General Counsel died tragically and then the entire company went down the pooper, bad acquisitions, greedy CEO, bankruptcy ...

[Finance Guy]

Originally Posted by domergurl

Well, not so much anymore, their General Counsel died tragically and then the entire company went down the pooper, bad acquisitions, greedy CEO, bankruptcy ...

Well, that would be about par for the course. Insurance companies are some of the greediest companies in the world. Insurance companies need to get back in the business of providing insurance and paying their claims instead of trying to figure out a way to screw its policyholders so it can keep premium payments.

What are the best cities in Indiana for finance positions?

[domergurl]

Probably Indianapolis and it's environs, but you never know. Lincoln Financial is in Fort Wayne (isn't it???). NiSource is in Merrillville. Those are fortune 500 companies not in Indy ...

[Finance Guy]

Has anybody had any luck with recruiters? If so, who? I'm thinking that since I am from out of state it may be better to have somebody help me find a job who is familiar with the job market and its employers. Suggestions?


Thanks!