Need Help with Nola Information! (apartment, rentals, job market)

[KeninWA]

Hi Everyone!

Thanks for taking the time to take a look at this post. I am just looking for a bit of information and opinion. I visited Nola a couple years ago and absolutely fell in love with it. I have been back a few times since then and every time I come back I become even more deeply infatuated with it. I want to move there! But I do not know if it is a good idea.

My wife and I are in our mid-twenties and both college graduates in liberal arts. I have been in the armed forces and gotten out after 8 years. We are both employed in decent jobs here, but we need a change of scenery. We have saved a bit of money for it, but are finding it hard to get the information we need to make the leap.

The things we need to know:

1. Are there professional staffing agencies in NOLA and if so, does anyone have any of their information?

2. How IS the job market, is it good enough to get a decent ($15.00 p/h and up) fairly quickly?

3. What are some good neighborhoods to look at? In Seattle (Where I live now) we have more defined areas, unfortunately when looking at craigslist and realtors websites for NOLA rentals, it does not seem to be the same.

4. What are some major industries there?

I know this is a lot, but I really love the city there and would love to get involved with the community there.

Thanks!

[Neworleansisprettygood]

It's Mardi Gras day, so you're not going to get many responses, but the job market here is generally good. We have one of the lowest unemployment rates among any larger metros. I'm kind of drunk so my grammar probably isn't very good right now.

[Btheexplorer]

1. I don't know about staffing agencies, but I do know that they value a lot referrals, networks and strong professional relationships. That is how I found a job and moved here.
2. My impression is that salaries are lower (up to 50% less) compared to other cities (like Chicago).
3. I moved from Chicago. The online apartment search was very frustrating. It is not going to work on the distance. For decent, relatively safe and walkable neighborhoods I would recommend Uptown (& Lower Garden District), Warehouse District, and Mid City. All of them have patchy areas, so always ask about the block/street where the apartment is located.
4. Industries: what I've seen so far is healthcare, tourism, construction...and looks like a lot of film activity due to tax incentives but I think they bring staff from other places.

Hope this helps!