What would High tech Business Do For Central Kansa? (Wichita: sales, home)

[exousia1]

I am just a little curious. When I say High Tech I mean jobs like programmers, web developers, graphic designers, illustrators, content writers, social media marketers, sales and marketing, information technology, seo experts, audio and video creators, systems administrators, computer builders, network analysts and so on.

A couple of years ago I took a trip to central Kansas in the Saline County area on our way to Dodge City and while eating in a couple of restaurants there, I asked questions to some of the college people working as waitresses and waiters during the summer. They said that Kansas was suffering for lack of those kinds of businesses and those who wanted to have jobs in those types of businesses would have to go out of State to find them more readily. I kind of got the idea that the college young people would rather stay close to home then leave the State. Kansas in general seems to be suffering from changing to the high tech virtual world may not be true but just what I experienced.

Is that true or not?
What would happen if High Tech Business came there?
Would there be sufficient workers in that field of business available for job recruiters?
What would a High Tech Business do for college grads then?

There just seems to be retail and service jobs and not much else there. If anyone has any idea about this I would be interested in knowing.

[thriftylefty]

I would start with checking out what career and curriculum programs high schools in the area have. The highway between Wichita and Salina has quite a few colleges. Salina Tech would be a start also.

[Versatile]

For the Tech world Kansas doesn't have much to draw in quality people. Unless you farm or fish and hunt or go to church then there is not that much in Kansas to keep you there.Might be why Ks is considered a fly over state.

[AnywhereElse]

I lived in Salina in the late 70's/early 80's and now in Emporia. You'll need to look at the age range for the places you have in mind. Much of the population is no longer of working age and then you have a stagnant welfare population that doesn't work, those that can't pass the drug test, etc. I do not believe that they would be able to recruit locally unless they were small which would make them insignificant in making a difference. Not many people would be interested in relocating to such a "remote" location which would turn off an employer that is looking to relocate. Add high taxes, high heating/cooling bills compared to say SE AL which was recruiting people and businesses when we left the area 8 years ago. You would also have to have the support of those that rule the area. Keep in mind that businesses generally go to locations that have the most to offer them in financial incentives which most cities in KS are in no position to do when it comes to competing against other areas of the US.

[Rivertowntalk]

When you drove through Kansas, you drove through a high tech world. There are few occupations that are higher tech than farming is today. Farmers have to understand computers, data, many different types of high tech computerized equipment. They are on line and they use gps and many other methods that employ technology. Implement dealers are in this deep and they cover large areas. Much of farming technology has enabled farmers to farm larger masses of land with fewer people involved in the labor. This has resulted in fewer, more efficient, larger farms. Many people from rural areas then must look elsewhere for jobs. Many relocate to Kansas City or Denver.