Are these ND jobs, all low paying jobs? (Fargo, Bismarck: fit in, apartment)
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In the last few days I registered with Job Service North Dakota and had long discussions with an employment counselor at the service center in Bismarck. This woman was very helpful and told me as an engineer I should have "no" problem finding a descent paying job in Bismarck, Fargo or Grand Forks, ND. She was also rambling on about some unrealistic unemployment figures I never heard before, like 3.8% statewide and 1.4% in Williston area. I was also told and aware of the housing problem in Williston and Western ND because of influx of oil workers.
I'm an unemployed Civil Engineer from the Philadelphia Area now living and looking for work in Oklahoma City's oil and gas industry. W/O oil and gas experience I'm finding out it's very difficult to be hired by these folks. I was a Project Engineer for a consultant earning $90k in a now dead Transportation Industry; all the states in US are cutting back DOT projects, everywhere. I know I will not get that salary in ND as an engineer but I'm hoping to get something at least $60k, a little above the minimum salary for Civils which is around $45-50k. I have professional engineering licenses in TX and PA.
With North Dakota being a tiny population state, I find the Center's Employment Counselor’s remarks about plentiful good paying jobs for professionals in ND
"MYTHICAL" !!!!!!
I'm from the Urban East Coast and I know "There is no place to run away in the United States of America right now from this ongoing economic disaster"!!!
North Dakotans, I want to hear from you, what is fact, what is fiction about these good paying ND jobs. I have no problem packing up my pickup truck and apartment leaving OKC on any notice and make a 1000 mile trip up north.
While I can't comment on wages in your field, I can tell you there are more jobs out here than you can shake a stick at.
Yes all of the facts and figures are correct. VERY low unemployment. I live in Jamestown, and we are several hundred miles from the oil patch, and we still have unemployment under 4%, BUT not near the housing crunch. You might also look at Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks.
CNBC’s “Mad Money” show will originate Wednesday from western North Dakota’s oil fields, part of the program’s “Invest in America” series.
GRAND FORKS – CNBC’s “Mad Money” show will originate Wednesday from western North Dakota’s oil fields, part of the program’s “Invest in America” series.
“Some people are asking if this region, in the middle of nowhere, just might be the solution to the U.S.’ three biggest problems – unemployment, an addiction to foreign oil and a faltering economy,” according to a release about the program.
Host Jim Cramer will cover the story of the oil boom in North Dakota’s Bakken Shale region, “focusing on jobs, technology, infrastructure and the American pioneer spirit,” according to the release.
“Mad Money” airs at 5 p.m. and repeats at 10 p.m.
Another CNBC reporter will report live from North Dakota throughout the day on how the boom has impacted the area, including longtime residents “and the men and women who are flocking there in droves to make their fortune.”
Corbay, thanks for your input, time and the info. on the upcoming CNBC programs. It sounds encouraging and will want to watch it.
One more thing to you North Dakotans, don't think all of us from the urban Eastcoast heading out your way are hoodlums, trouble makers and people that don't have respect for property ownership or neighbors. Many of us are hard working conservatives, very easy going, the national media does not portray us that way.
People here know how to mind their own business. I'm more liberal and agnostic and haven't had a problem making friends with locals. They don't care about political affiliation or religious affiliation that much.
As for decent paying jobs, my husband works a more physical job but his base salary alone is in the $40-$50k range. He has a GED and a class B CDL, he works as a tool specialist now. On top of his salary he also gets an hourly rate when out in the field of around $20/hr. It's extremely busy, so that makes for pretty decent cash.
I know that others have found civil engineering jobs that they've posted on this site, there are a few to be had though it's not nearly as "in demand" as petroleum engineers. You may want to talk to one of the oil companies if you're willing to switch careers and see if they'll pay for your education so that you can be a petroleum engineer.
If that doesn't interest you, I'd just surf the papers, the jobsnd site, and even sites like careerbuilder or indeed. There are plenty of jobs, and most do pay fairly well.
Hey thanks for the feedback, ND sounds like the people I want to live with. With the Civil end of things, I have been networking with oil and gas companies back in PA for over 2 years. PA is too going through a gas drilling boom, many civil eng. type people work in oil and gas, they just want the folks to have exp. in the industry. There's no need, at least I feel to re educate myself in a different engineering program.
Why, OKC? Just thought I'd try life and job prospects in the western states. Great people out this way and very helpful I may add. Hey, if a civil job opens up in my transportation or municipal background, I'll jump on anything I could fit into.
Did not know I could post for a civil engineering job here?
By the way, I'm not denying those unemployment figures or the avail. jobs there from you folks in North Dakota; it’s just hard for me to believe a state with population only around 690,000 people can be that great for jobs.
I'm from Montgomery County Penna. population as of 2010 nearly 800,000 people and only 475 sq. miles. Perhaps you can understand why I think that way.
But in any case, I rest with what I’m hearing from you and the national attention.
[color=black][font=Verdana]By the way, I'm not denying those unemployment figures or the avail. jobs there from you folks in North Dakota; it’s just hard for me to believe a state with population only around 690,000 people can be that great for jobs.
A low unemployment rate doesn't mean that the state is "great for jobs". Actually, the low population partly explains the low UE rate.
From what I've read, much of the Bakken engineering is being done back at home offices in Denver, OKC, Dallas, etc. As a CivE though, you might be able to find some facilities work at one of the ND field offices.
If your experience is in transportation, you might want to look at some of the engineering consulting firms in Fargo, GF, Bismarck.
Thanks for the feedback, from networking with the oil and gas folks the last 2 years I'm well aware most of the engineering work for these oil sites in remote areas like Western PA and Western ND is being done at corporate offices like in Houston, OKC, Denver, more down that way. There are engineering type positions in the field at these remote sites, such as what I'm trying to get in, i.e. EHS compliance and environmental inspections but they all want the oil and gas experience. My Civil background has huge involvement with environmental and regulatory agencies, permits, lots of right-of-way background and such but these companies are bull headed in letting an outside professional like me in the oil and gas door. Perhaps I just need more time to make a final judgment on that.
Regarding the Civil Transp. and Municipal end of things, yes just like in Western and Northern PA, the local governments in the midst of all this oil and gas drilling are now needing additional housing (Civil site plans) roads and bridges ruined by heavy water trucks needing repair and maint. ( Civil Transp. work). I see it now as an oil and gas economy driving demand for other service industries.
By the way, some of these Northern Penna. Towns were near ghost towns as recent as five years ago, rent low as $300-$400/mo. Now has skyrocketed to $900 or $1000 or more in a year or two time, and a huge shortage of housing. Sound familiar North Dakota??
The woman working at the Bismarck ND Job Service Center sounded pretty convincing about other Civil type jobs available not directly involved with oil and gas in areas like Bismarck, Grand Forks and Fargo. I will graciously follow her leads along with the others I see here on this tread but will take it with a grain a salt and still pursue others in TX, OK and elsewhere.
Thanks again for all the suggestions.
TonyD.
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ND Professional Jobs
