Actual Employment Info on Maine (Portland: transplants, hotels, new home)
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One of the most common statements made on threads here to those wanting to make Maine their new home, is the barrage of responses on how horrible the economy is and how most will fail or be forced to relocate out of Maine.
After reading this across most query'ed posts on moving to Maine, I felt it'd be a good idea to get the actual #'s, cause the #'s don't lie right!
As of the most current information provided by the states and Govt alike, Maine as of June 2009 has an unemployment rate of 8.5%, which lands Maine smack dab in the middle of unemployment rates at #26.
Matter of fact most of the North East has some of the better employment rates in the US, NH 6.8, VT 7.2, Mass 8.6.
Now on the other side of things places like NC, Cali, SC, etc have been experiencing double digit unemployment for some time before the end of last year.
So all in all it appears Maine's employment outlook is at worst no worse off than anywhere else in the US, and at best will rebound alot faster when things eventually turn around.
So lets not listen to all the negative hubbub about the Maine economy, do some research over listening to those that may have an agenda to not wanting any one from out of state to move in
One of the most common statements made on threads here to those wanting to make Maine their new home, is the barrage of responses on how horrible the economy is and how most will fail or be forced to relocate out of Maine.
After reading this across most query'ed posts on moving to Maine, I felt it'd be a good idea to get the actual #'s, cause the #'s don't lie right!
As of the most current information provided by the states and Govt alike, Maine as of June 2009 has an unemployment rate of 8.5%, which lands Maine smack dab in the middle of unemployment rates at #26.
Matter of fact most of the North East has some of the better employment rates in the US, NH 6.8, VT 7.2, Mass 8.6.
Now on the other side of things places like NC, Cali, SC, etc have been experiencing double digit unemployment for some time before the end of last year.
So all in all it appears Maine's employment outlook is at worst no worse off than anywhere else in the US, and at best will rebound alot faster when things eventually turn around.
So lets not listen to all the negative hubbub about the Maine economy, do some research over listening to those that may have an agenda to not wanting any one from out of state to move in
I don't think the typical mantra is that there are "NO" jobs here... at leat thats not the way I have responded to those looking to come to Maine to find employment.
The truth is in numbers and it is Maines notoriously low per capita and house hold income that scare away some people from settling down here.
NH ranked 6th at $62,369
MA ranked 7th at $63,365
VT ranked 21st at$49,907
and Maine ranked 35th at $45,888 which is over 26% less then our only border state NH.
Considering our Cost of living rating in Maine is 127.6 with 100 being the average Maine's rank of 35th is even worse.. NH rating was 127.8
So there are definately jobs here, but Maine lacks in having an abundant supply of good paying jobs. Regardless of the this economy in the last 15 years of living here I have mainly seen municiple, state, and federal jobs offer the best employment.. Now we have some good employment in the medical field but mostly Maine offers mostly entry level jobs.
The thing to keep in mind with any of this information is quality of life and the type of life that your looking to live. For Many, Maine is truly the way life should be and the only life they want..
I don't think the typical mantra is that there are "NO" jobs here... at leat thats not the way I have responded to those looking to come to Maine to find employment.
The truth is in numbers and it is Maines notoriously low per capita and house hold income that scare away some people from settling down here.
NH ranked 6th at $62,369
MA ranked 7th at $63,365
VT ranked 21st at$49,907
and Maine ranked 35th at $45,888 which is over 26% less then our only border state NH.
Considering our Cost of living rating in Maine is 127.6 with 100 being the average Maine's rank of 35th is even worse.. NH rating was 127.8
So there are definately jobs here, but Maine lacks in having an abundant supply of good paying jobs. Regardless of the this economy in the last 15 years of living here I have mainly seen municiple, state, and federal jobs offer the best employment.. Now we have some good employment in the medical field but mostly Maine offers mostly entry level jobs.
The thing to keep in mind with any of this information is quality of life and the type of life that your looking to live. For Many, Maine is truly the way life should be and the only life they want..
This sums up the truth we tried to express to you in the Massage Therapy thread. There is little money in this state no matter how you slice it and very few will indulge in something they cannot afford. Someone trying to feed a family while making just over minimum wage working in the Presque-Isle Wal Mart has no disposable income! They usually have to work two or three other part time jobs just to keep a roof and food on the table. Employed does not always mean gainfully employed. June is the HEIGHT of employment in Maine which has a huge seasonal job base. Those stats for Maine drop like a rock in September as the seasonal jobs dry up.
Experience from living here doesn't lie either! You do us a disservice by dismissing our experiences. Anyone can quote statistics. This forum exists to try to go deeper than the numbers. When you have lived in Maine for 50 years we will consider your statistics and experience. Until then perhaps you should consider ours!
I don't think the typical mantra is that there are "NO" jobs here... at leat thats not the way I have responded to those looking to come to Maine to find employment.
The truth is in numbers and it is Maines notoriously low per capita and house hold income that scare away some people from settling down here.
NH ranked 6th at $62,369
MA ranked 7th at $63,365
VT ranked 21st at$49,907
and Maine ranked 35th at $45,888 which is over 26% less then our only border state NH.
Considering our Cost of living rating in Maine is 127.6 with 100 being the average Maine's rank of 35th is even worse.. NH rating was 127.8
So there are definately jobs here, but Maine lacks in having an abundant supply of good paying jobs. Regardless of the this economy in the last 15 years of living here I have mainly seen municiple, state, and federal jobs offer the best employment.. Now we have some good employment in the medical field but mostly Maine offers mostly entry level jobs.
The thing to keep in mind with any of this information is quality of life and the type of life that your looking to live. For Many, Maine is truly the way life should be and the only life they want..
Yeah I know but the common theme in alot of people looking to relocate to Maine, has indeed been how bad the economy is up there.
Now I don't live there and all I can go by is the #'s I have available to me, but your right there are certain sectors of the job market that are wide open like the medical field which it's like that anywhere you go for that (lucky me RN), and like some have offered good advice here about people needing to travel to Maine first, which the scary part is does Maine see alot of that people just blindly moving w/ out visiting???? That wouldn't be poss for me as I'd have to visit several times on extended visits, cause you never know whatcha gonna get!
But back to the point at hand I think there is more negative talk about why folks shouldn't move to Maine that is that I've seen or read!
Usually you go to a post about relocating and it tends to be the same old players w/ the same old song and dance.
This sums up the truth we tried to express to you in the Massage Therapy thread. There is little money in this state no matter how you slice it and very few will indulge in something they cannot afford. Someone trying to feed a family while making just over minimum wage working in the Presque-Isle Wal Mart has no disposable income! They usually have to work two or three other part time jobs just to keep a roof and food on the table. Employed does not always mean gainfully employed. June is the HEIGHT of employment in Maine which has a huge seasonal job base. Those stats for Maine drop like a rock in September as the seasonal jobs dry up.
Experience from living here doesn't lie either! You do us a disservice by dismissing our experiences. Anyone can quote statistics. This forum exists to try to go deeper than the numbers. When you have lived in Maine for 50 years we will consider your statistics and experience. Until then perhaps you should consider ours!
Well I would but it's all negative, well let me temper that w/ saying a handful of the same folks w/ the same song and dance. I've been visiting this site now for about 7mths or more and you tend to read the same things on how bad it is.
Now I'm not going to respond to the LMT comment as that topic went in a whole diff direction than it should've, but my mail box is full of those transplants and Mainers alike that welcome newbies and those transplants whove been there for years and have had little issue w/ what has been bannered about on this site, and each has said as well that most here tend to not want people moving to the state, which is the same for where Im at now, cause it brings Higher property taxes, takes away from the natural environment as more people relocate.
Thing is life is about to turn around in the Northern states, as more and more people are looking for that shangrilah if you will, and for cooler climates as it's getting darn hot down south these days.
And because someone is from somewhere doesn't really mean they have any insight into the state or region. I'm originally from Jax Fl and there is no way I could comment on the state of the economy in the entire state, if I did that would be irresponsible and reckless especially on a site where people are coming for help.
Instead the posts should most likely read, "Hey things are tough here as they are everywhere right now, but come give us a visit a time or two we's sure like you to check us out stay at our hotels and eat at our fine restaurants" etc that's the way you sell your state especially one that depends so heavily on the tourist dime.
And last I read on my other thread there were no LMT's that posted but I sure got alot of influential advice from retirees.
I'm not trying to be negative matter of fact I despise it, I challenge you read other threads about people wanting to relocate to Maine I bet you will have a handful of the same old song and dance! from the same old suspects as well most likely!
dan if you are an rn, you are in one of the best sought after jobs in maine, you will have a choice to where you want to live.
maine is a beautiful state, i've lived here all my life, and most of us welcome newcomers.
my son is a teenager, im trying to nudge him to be a pharmacist, but id be happy if he were an r.n. excellent job security!
thats my experience in maine- my sons mother is an r.n. and has an excellent career
good luck in your search, listen to the folks that have moved up here from away, they do seem to like it..
Well I would but it's all negative, well let me temper that w/ saying a handful of the same folks w/ the same song and dance. I've been visiting this site now for about 7mths or more and you tend to read the same things on how bad it is.
Now I'm not going to respond to the LMT comment as that topic went in a whole diff direction than it should've, but my mail box is full of those transplants and Mainers alike that welcome newbies and those transplants whove been there for years and have had little issue w/ what has been bannered about on this site, and each has said as well that most here tend to not want people moving to the state, which is the same for where Im at now, cause it brings Higher property taxes, takes away from the natural environment as more people relocate.
Thing is life is about to turn around in the Northern states, as more and more people are looking for that shangrilah if you will, and for cooler climates as it's getting darn hot down south these days.
And because someone is from somewhere doesn't really mean they have any insight into the state or region. I'm originally from Jax Fl and there is no way I could comment on the state of the economy in the entire state, if I did that would be irresponsible and reckless especially on a site where people are coming for help.
Instead the posts should most likely read, "Hey things are tough here as they are everywhere right now, but come give us a visit a time or two we's sure like you to check us out stay at our hotels and eat at our fine restaurants" etc that's the way you sell your state especially one that depends so heavily on the tourist dime.
And last I read on my other thread there were no LMT's that posted but I sure got alot of influential advice from retirees.
I'm not trying to be negative matter of fact I despise it, I challenge you read other threads about people wanting to relocate to Maine I bet you will have a handful of the same old song and dance! from the same old suspects as well most likely!
Many people "lurk" if you will and don't bother opining. You're welcome to believe whatever you wish. Take a look at the reputation points of those you are calling the "same old suspects". The points did not fall out of the sky. By dismissing our opinions and advice even though we live here and you have never done so, gives us all pause to wonder what your motive really is. I hope you have better luck making friends in Portland than you have on this forum.
Ah, but the numbers do lie! York and Cumberland Counties consistently skew the statistics. Unemployment in many counties can be 10%, in a good month. The stats fail to include the 2, 3 and four wage families working multiple jobs, that barely scrape by. I have seen many a fortune depleted within a couple of years by many couples coming up here to live a dream, only to leave broke or bankrupt. That includes a half a dozen LMT's.
I keep coming back to Maine. The local area is like a magnet made of old bones for me. It's just got too much family history and memories.
The job market here is a far cry from the other coast. My 21yo son lives there and works for me and has a second job (Sacramento). He could find more work if he had to. He drives a new car and motorcycle. Lives in his own halfplex while going to school. Here, my brother lost his job. The other lost 15 hours a week. A nephew just left for Kansas City for work, a musician. My neice and nephew across the street are lucky to be working now. Took them all winter. A sister has been on and off work for some time now.
Still, not a one of them, or me, want to leave this place. There is something to be said for stubbornness.
I'm just a stubborn, curmudgeon living in an 1850's dungeon.
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Actual Employment Info on Maine
