Job Availability (Detroit, Flint, Lansing: income, jobs, colleges)

[travelling_paws]

I'm a painting contractor...used to do lots of commercial work. Now it's mostly residential, faux painting, like that. Most of my work is Grand Blanc, Fenton, Linden -where the money is.
There's some real nice parts of Flint, though - there are people in Flint who have enough money to move away but prefer to live here. Believe it or not! College Cultural area, west on Beecher, Mott Park, east of Center Rd...I don't know the neighborhood names but can think of some very, very nice areas in the city.

You're right about the segregation here. I've never seen anything like it. It's not just in the ghetto-y parts of the city, either. I can think of one neighborhood (off Beecher Rd a little west of McLaren Hospital, for anyone that knows the area) that is very very nice, big older homes on large lots. I've painted several homes there and I swear there isn't a white family in the entire neighborhood.

One upside is housing prices. I have friends who closed Friday on a house, NW Flint up towards Genesee Twp, that's pretty nice, kind of rural. Three acres. 1900 sf 1970s brick ranch, well built. The only thing wrong with it, it's a bit dated - panelling on many walls, older kitchen etc but in nice condition. Two car garage plus a really huge pole barn. And did I mention 3 acres?
$105,000.
They're not rich and that's about all they can afford but not many parts of the country can you get that sort of deal? Their payment is under $700 and property taxes are cheap here.

Or, if one is very patient, with global warming, MI should be in the sweet spot in about 50-75 years as much of the south becomes uninhabitable lol

Hahaha!

[tarheel]

Well it has been interesting, did I feel like I was being attacked, no I just thougth the person was rude, it was a simple inquiry, I did not know the situtation in MI, and I was curious. I have been searching in many different areas. The south is home to us our family, friends and roots are here, but we are realistic enough to know we may have to move, but as I said it will be a year or so and alot can happen in that amount of time.

[thisguy]

Originally Posted by travelling_paws

I'm a painting contractor...used to do lots of commercial work. Now it's mostly residential, faux painting, like that. Most of my work is Grand Blanc, Fenton, Linden -where the money is.
There's some real nice parts of Flint, though - there are people in Flint who have enough money to move away but prefer to live here. Believe it or not! College Cultural area, west on Beecher, Mott Park, east of Center Rd...I don't know the neighborhood names but can think of some very, very nice areas in the city.

You're right about the segregation here. I've never seen anything like it. It's not just in the ghetto-y parts of the city, either. I can think of one neighborhood (off Beecher Rd a little west of McLaren Hospital, for anyone that knows the area) that is very very nice, big older homes on large lots. I've painted several homes there and I swear there isn't a white family in the entire neighborhood.

One upside is housing prices. I have friends who closed Friday on a house, NW Flint up towards Genesee Twp, that's pretty nice, kind of rural. Three acres. 1900 sf 1970s brick ranch, well built. The only thing wrong with it, it's a bit dated - panelling on many walls, older kitchen etc but in nice condition. Two car garage plus a really huge pole barn. And did I mention 3 acres?
$105,000.
They're not rich and that's about all they can afford but not many parts of the country can you get that sort of deal? Their payment is under $700 and property taxes are cheap here.



Hahaha!

Well my only comment on the $105K for 3 acres is yes there are MANY parts of the country like that, but they are mostly in rural areas or downtrowden areas (is Gary, Indiana any different from Flint - I am sure you can find the same bargains). Will you find them near big cities, no. I wouldnt consider Flint to be a big city and in fact its lost a ton of population. So can you find a 1900 sq foot 1970s home for $105K in thriving parts of the country near a larger city? Not likely. But to find an area like Flint that is "not so healthy" let's say, in other parts of the country - I think you could do it... or in smaller towns in less expensive parts of the US... i.e. a Montgomery Alabama or smaller towns in Mississipi or Texas or out in Idaho Montana etc if thats your cup of tea. If you work a service job you can go pretty much anywhere that has some basic retail or restaurants, etc. If your job is more specific in nature than maybe your choices become more limited.

I just think for someone with no family affiliation or job relocated to that specific area there are a lot better mid to long term job opportunities (with nicer winter weather) across the country. I am trying to think about it from the posters original perspective. If you just landed in the USA, could speak perfect English, had zero family anywhere in the country and could choose any spot in the US to live - would Flint be #1? Or for that part any part of MI if you consider jobs/climate/safety/schools etc. A good arguement could be made for Traverse City or Grand Rapids or even Ann Arbor on most of these counts (except for climate)... but I wouldnt put any town in MI in the top 5 list if all options were on the table which it appears is the case for the original poster.

[thisguy]

Ford is letting go another 14K white collar, and offering buyouts to 75,000 (their entire blue collar workforce) hoping 30K take the offer (the blue collar will be spread among MI and other states)

And the hits just keep coming....

[travelling_paws]

If you just landed in the USA, could speak perfect English, had zero family anywhere in the country and could choose any spot in the US to live - would Flint be #1? Or for that part any part of MI if you consider jobs/climate/safety/schools etc.

Hahaha! Nope - if all options were on the table, I'd stay far, far away from MI and most of the midwest.
I didn't mean to sound like a booster for the city of Flint. Being as how I'm pretty much stuck here for another couple of years I guess I'm just trying to make the best of it.

[GAisGreat]

I think a lot of the replies people were being a bit truthful, but at the same time being pretty sarcastic, obviousely it scared the original poster away!
But you have to realize, look at how many hundreds of posts there are of people, 'looking to move to North Carolina<or insert any high growth southern/western state> from Michigan<or insert any low growth midwestern/northeastern state> tired of high cost of living, no jobs, etc. please recommend...blah blah'
So of course people are going to be taken aback when you are coming FROM one of the 'wanting to move to...' states that has 10 new Super <blank> opening everyday, and inquiring about moving to one of the few states consistantly losing people!

I agree w/paws, you can definately make it in MI! But it depends on your situation. When we left we were making decent enough money to get by, but not good enough to get a decent house in a decent enough area to raise kids. We both had marketable skills, spent about a yr looking to find better paying jobs and never found anything. Finally we moved to GA, and within a couple months I tripled my salary (in a lower skilled position) and my wife doubled hers. So it really helped us. So I can't say I regret it, but can't wait to get the hell out of the South.
If we didn't have kids, maybe had gone to college, etc. then I think we could've stayed in MI and made it eventually. Just with a family we didn't have time for 'eventually'.

Now we're established, and plan to go back to MI ASAP!

I also agree Flint is not that bad of an area. No it's not #1 on my list, but I definately wouldn't write it off if I ever had an opportunity to live and work there.

[Rohan]

Originally Posted by tarheel

Hi, we are considering a move to the Tecumseh area, having lived there in 1976, and I was wondering about the employment and economic situtation, things are not great here in North Carolina businesses closing everyday with huge layoffs, I was laid off 2 years ago took advantage of a program that allowed me to go to school and now I still can't find a job, same situtation for my boyfriend he will finish school in May and we know we may have to leave the state. My mother is 79 and loves Michigan and wants to live there again. Any information would be appreciated. Have a great week everyone.

The job situation in Michigan is *TERRIBLE*.. Layoffs keep piling up, industry keeps shutting down. Ford is now ready to layoff/fire/retire about half their workforce. A good 50% of my street (and I live in a NICE area) are unemployed. I have been unemployed for a year, and on average I send out 70-100 resumes a month. NOTHING.

My sister was layed off, my cousin was layed off, my best friend was layed off - and none of them were in the auto industry! There simply is no jobs here, the economy is in tatters, and getting worse by the minute. People are leaving the state by the thousands. Worse, Michigan is listed as the state with having the most home value drop in the last quarter!

In fact, my wife is like the only person I know employed right now, shes a Nurse making $81,000 a year at a high paying hospital here. Everyone else is heading towards skid-row in Michigan, while they list the unemployment around 7%, this number is completely bogus. My aunt worked at the unemployment office, and said the "Realised" unemployment in michigan is close to 25%. The state ONLY tracks people still collecting unemployment benefits, and that lasts only 6 months for most people!

Seriously, this place is dying, I see it everyday. If you want to be in the statistic of 1 out of every 4 people aren't working, go ahead and move here. I thought things were great in NC, but you say they aren't? You mean to tell me Bush's great plan for the country has hit you guys too?

[tarheel]

Originally Posted by Rohan

The job situation in Michigan is *TERRIBLE*.. Layoffs keep piling up, industry keeps shutting down. Ford is now ready to layoff/fire/retire about half their workforce. A good 50% of my street (and I live in a NICE area) are unemployed. I have been unemployed for a year, and on average I send out 70-100 resumes a month. NOTHING.

My sister was layed off, my cousin was layed off, my best friend was layed off - and none of them were in the auto industry! There simply is no jobs here, the economy is in tatters, and getting worse by the minute. People are leaving the state by the thousands. Worse, Michigan is listed as the state with having the most home value drop in the last quarter!

In fact, my wife is like the only person I know employed right now, shes a Nurse making $81,000 a year at a high paying hospital here. Everyone else is heading towards skid-row in Michigan, while they list the unemployment around 7%, this number is completely bogus. My aunt worked at the unemployment office, and said the "Realised" unemployment in michigan is close to 25%. The state ONLY tracks people still collecting unemployment benefits, and that lasts only 6 months for most people!

Seriously, this place is dying, I see it everyday. If you want to be in the statistic of 1 out of every 4 people aren't working, go ahead and move here. I thought things were great in NC, but you say they aren't? You mean to tell me Bush's great plan for the country has hit you guys too?

If you will look back a few post you will see I have stated Michagan is no longer a consideration for us. I am truly sorry for everyones difficulites there I was making a simple inquiry and everyone went nuts. Maybe NC is doing great I only know what is happing in my little world were like you several members of my family besides me are out of work, and the same here as far as the unemployment rate, it does not contain the statistics of those not looking or who have run out of benefits such as myself. I too send out numerous resumes only to get letters of thanks and great qualifications but going with someone else please feel free to apply again. Temp agency did not send me on one job in 2 months so I will try another one. I am not coming to Michagan now or ever at this moment even if things turned totaly around and it was the only place to get a job I wouldn't come. Everyone on other post about moving there did not get the same sarcastic rude remarks I did. I wish you all well but no longer need anymore information on Michagan.

[mich2fla]

Originally Posted by tarheel

If you will look back a few post you will see I have stated Michagan is no longer a consideration for us. I am truly sorry for everyones difficulites there I was making a simple inquiry and everyone went nuts. Maybe NC is doing great I only know what is happing in my little world were like you several members of my family besides me are out of work, and the same here as far as the unemployment rate, it does not contain the statistics of those not looking or who have run out of benefits such as myself. I too send out numerous resumes only to get letters of thanks and great qualifications but going with someone else please feel free to apply again. Temp agency did not send me on one job in 2 months so I will try another one. I am not coming to Michagan now or ever at this moment even if things turned totaly around and it was the only place to get a job I wouldn't come. Everyone on other post about moving there did not get the same sarcastic rude remarks I did. I wish you all well but no longer need anymore information on Michagan.

Sorry you felt offended. I'm in product design engineering and this field is not good in Michigan. NC is one of the states I'm looking into besides Florida.

Have you looked into Charlotte and Raleigh? Good luck!

[murph_k]

I grew up in Tecumseh, MI. It is a great small town. Nice place to raise a family. Although, the employment and salary opportunities are not that appealing, unless you are planning on commuting to Toledo, OH or Ann Arbor, MI. And I am sure you are aware that the employment situation in MI is not good anywhere. Trust me, I recently was let go in September from a Pharmaceutical Sales career and 5+ years experience and still am unemployed. Good luck.