Are young people leaving Los Angeles? (San Francisco, Orange: 2013, rent, new house)
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I was born and raised in the L.A. area, and I really used to think that this was the promised land - a golden state of opportunity. Now I see a failed state of fallen dreams and broken hopes, brought to its knees by spineless, fiscally-irresponsible politicians who, in my opinion, care more for the wellbeing of illegal immigrants and dope fiends than the plight of young Californians like myself. It was becoming more and more clear that California did not hold a bright future for me, my career, or my future family. I left Los Angeles this year for the Washington DC area, and I love it. The pay here is great, the unemployment rate is under 6%, jobs openings are everywhere, and the cost of living is comparable to SoCal. While I miss the weather, I don't miss the bleak future that California is facing, and I'm very happy I made the move to greener pastures in DC.
I read just about every day that people are leaving California, Los Angeles more specifically because jobs/cost of living has taken the 'Golden' out of the Golden State. The top destination is Arizona, then other western states.
Can anyone tell me if it is even worth my while to even try a move to Los Angeles as a young, mid-career level professional. I am in my 30's. I love LA and California as a whole but don't even want to bother if I will be priced out soon anyway.
I am a renter and single so that helps, BUT, I have heard too that people with my condition are the type of people that are headed out.
My salary range would be mid 30K to 40K per year. Can someone please enlighten me on this?
Florida is a better place to live because it has a growing middle class and yet is similar to the way Southern California was 30 years ago.
Florida is a better place to live because it has a growing middle class and yet is similar to the way Southern California was 30 years ago.
Again, I know there is more to life than good weather, but it got up to 96 degrees in St. Petersburg yesterday! The heat index was 101. I left once to go to the grocery and back and that was all I could take. My mission in life is to get an education/career and get out of this place.
Don't move to FL. I am from the Tampa Bay area. It is hot and humid. Nothing like living in a place where the temp never goes under 90 - even at night. It is horrible. The job market stinks. I do not think there are a lot of young people living there.
I know this is an older thread but, as someone leaving Los Angeles after four years here, I thought I could give some insight from someone working in the Entertainment Industry who is leaving.
1) If you were born here, you are probably less likely to leave because you have a built-in support system (family hopefully), and often a huge amount of friends and contacts that could potentially get you a job, or maybe just give you a meal every once and a while.
2) There are a lot of people simply not 'making it' on their own. My girlfriend and I live very cheaply ($825 rent) and work hard, and yet we still struggle. But none of our neighbors seem to work (thin walls at this rent). We just walk around sometimes looking at people driving their nicer cars and wonder 'how are they making this work'. The answer is most simply are not.
3) I work in the collapsing Entertainment Industry. But even before it was collapsing, it was extremely common for almost everyone to go on and off unemployment constantly. As soon as a gig would end, they would file, when they got a new gig they would go off.. Since I was working as an independent contractor, I was never able to file. But this created an imbalance. They are able to ride the slow periods of work--in fact they enjoy it. Going skiing and surfing and out with friends. Some of my friends unemployment checks equal my entire monthly expenses. It's hard to compete for jobs when you need a job tomorrow and they can wait for months, be picky, and potentially do jobs for a lower rate because they are being supplemented.
3) I'm in my 30's, and while I have a ton of experience and refernces, their is a huge population of early twenties people who are living at home willing to work at half or less of my rate. I simply can't compete anymore.
So we're leaving back to my hometown in the midwest where foreclosed houses go for 15-20k. I will reinvent myself in terms of my career, but I have had enough of giving my money to this city and getting nothing in return.
I work in the collapsing Entertainment Industry. But even before it was collapsing, it was extremely common for almost everyone to go on and off unemployment constantly. As soon as a gig would end, they would file, when they got a new gig they would go off.. Since I was working as an independent contractor, I was never able to file. But this created an imbalance. They are able to ride the slow periods of work--in fact they enjoy it. Going skiing and surfing and out with friends. Some of my friends unemployment checks equal my entire monthly expenses. It's hard to compete for jobs when you need a job tomorrow and they can wait for months, be picky, and potentially do jobs for a lower rate because they are being supplemented.
I'm in my 30's, and while I have a ton of experience and refernces, their is a huge population of early twenties people who are living at home willing to work at half or less of my rate. I simply can't compete anymore.
Just had to comment because this struck a chord with me. My eldest is in this business and it's just like you say: gig, unemployment, longer gig, unemployment, a few days work here and there as a 1099 employee (so as to make your tax filing difficult), a bit of travel or play if there is money in the bank and crushing depression when there isn't. She started so so cheap (free actually with an internship) but here rates have crept up with her skill and experience and it's just a matter of time before she gets to where you are, undercut by the new wave who work for free/cheap on their own climb.
She's doing ok right now and having a blast, but realized early on that this wasn't going to be sustainable for long. She planned to be there for 3 years, now 5-7, before moving on to something else and is ok with that since she likes to change her life ever few years.
I know this is an older thread but, as someone leaving Los Angeles after four years here, I thought I could give some insight from someone working in the Entertainment Industry who is leaving.
1) If you were born here, you are probably less likely to leave because you have a built-in support system (family hopefully), and often a huge amount of friends and contacts that could potentially get you a job, or maybe just give you a meal every once and a while.
2) There are a lot of people simply not 'making it' on their own. My girlfriend and I live very cheaply ($825 rent) and work hard, and yet we still struggle. But none of our neighbors seem to work (thin walls at this rent). We just walk around sometimes looking at people driving their nicer cars and wonder 'how are they making this work'. The answer is most simply are not.
3) I work in the collapsing Entertainment Industry. But even before it was collapsing, it was extremely common for almost everyone to go on and off unemployment constantly. As soon as a gig would end, they would file, when they got a new gig they would go off.. Since I was working as an independent contractor, I was never able to file. But this created an imbalance. They are able to ride the slow periods of work--in fact they enjoy it. Going skiing and surfing and out with friends. Some of my friends unemployment checks equal my entire monthly expenses. It's hard to compete for jobs when you need a job tomorrow and they can wait for months, be picky, and potentially do jobs for a lower rate because they are being supplemented.
3) I'm in my 30's, and while I have a ton of experience and refernces, their is a huge population of early twenties people who are living at home willing to work at half or less of my rate. I simply can't compete anymore.
So we're leaving back to my hometown in the midwest where foreclosed houses go for 15-20k. I will reinvent myself in terms of my career, but I have had enough of giving my money to this city and getting nothing in return.
I know this is an older thread but, as someone leaving Los Angeles after four years here, I thought I could give some insight from someone working in the Entertainment Industry who is leaving.
1) If you were born here, you are probably less likely to leave because you have a built-in support system (family hopefully), and often a huge amount of friends and contacts that could potentially get you a job, or maybe just give you a meal every once and a while.
2) There are a lot of people simply not 'making it' on their own. My girlfriend and I live very cheaply ($825 rent) and work hard, and yet we still struggle. But none of our neighbors seem to work (thin walls at this rent). We just walk around sometimes looking at people driving their nicer cars and wonder 'how are they making this work'. The answer is most simply are not.
3) I work in the collapsing Entertainment Industry. But even before it was collapsing, it was extremely common for almost everyone to go on and off unemployment constantly. As soon as a gig would end, they would file, when they got a new gig they would go off.. Since I was working as an independent contractor, I was never able to file. But this created an imbalance. They are able to ride the slow periods of work--in fact they enjoy it. Going skiing and surfing and out with friends. Some of my friends unemployment checks equal my entire monthly expenses. It's hard to compete for jobs when you need a job tomorrow and they can wait for months, be picky, and potentially do jobs for a lower rate because they are being supplemented.
3) I'm in my 30's, and while I have a ton of experience and refernces, their is a huge population of early twenties people who are living at home willing to work at half or less of my rate. I simply can't compete anymore.
So we're leaving back to my hometown in the midwest where foreclosed houses go for 15-20k. I will reinvent myself in terms of my career, but I have had enough of giving my money to this city and getting nothing in return.
Too bad it didn't work out for you, but there are plenty of people who come to LA for that reason and they make it work. So that doesn't apply to everyone.
It just seems like our generation and this country as a whole is screwed and there is no comming back. I don't blame Obama or any president. It was a work in progress since the 80s. No way Obama can fix this, nor the next guy.
Maybe other countries are better. Idk, hate to give up my dream. I think I'd rather be dead than settle for something I really have no passion for and hurt for the rest of my life looking at you get folks that made it and think about how depressed my younger self would be I knew my future.
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