Corvallis and college towns... (Portland, Eugene: unemployment rate, school, university)

[Mr. Ronnie James]

Hello friends...
How's Corvallis? There's NOTHING (career wise) in Grants Pass. I'm leaving this red-neck town. I do like college towns because of the energy. I don't want to hear about jobs or money because I'm self-employed, I have some money saved, and there are no jobs anywhere in Oregon, correct?

IF you know of anywhere in this state where there's all kinds of hiring going on...tell me, and I'll be there next month. I'm moving by myself.

What can I say? I like college towns. I know Portland has Portland State University and Corvallis has OSU. I could always go back to school. I like school. I want to be around young, single people. I'm sick and tired of being around retired Republicans.

Please give me some positive input. It's Labor Day weekend, and the only thing for me to celebrate is the fact that I'm leaving Josephine County.
Honestly, I'm sincerely seeking your compassionate counsel.

Thank you and God Bless!

[Gandalara]

????
This doesn't make sense.
First you say you're self-employed, and in the next sentence you ask about where there is hiring going on.
Which is it??

[backdrifter]

There are no places in Oregon where hiring is really going on in great quantities. Try Washington. They're doing slightly better than us. Maybe Olympia or Bellingham?

[DavePautsch]

However, on to your question: Depending on your skills and marketability - there ARE opportunities in this area, but as stated above, they are few and far between. With HP as the largest tech employer, and the associated businesses that support them in a down-sizing mode, that is one area with not much going on. On the other hand, there is a new hospital school going in over in Lebanon, and the Linn Benton Community College may also be developing some new opportunities. These will have Corvallis impacts, as well as positive impacts in the surrounding area.

Perhaps you could elaborate on what TYPE of opportunity you are looking for, and we could help more effectively.

[Mr. Ronnie James]

Well backdrifter, I think you're in Grants Pass too, right?
Washington? Yes, it's nice. Are there jobs? In this economy, picking a place?...You might as well be throwing darts at a map!

I like Oregon, but opportunities seem limited here and everywhere.
I'm not a "specialist" such as a registered nurse, a radiologist, a CPA, etc.

My Bachelor of Science degree is in Applied Mathematics. The first thing people tell me is "Teaching". I would be a good teacher, but I'm too much of an iconoclast. I really am. I'm an iconoclast. I need creativity. I need "freedom of expression". I'm tired of worrying about "approval from others".
(I think I speak for MILLIONS of Americans when I say that.)

I'm smart. I'm articulate. I'm a team player. I just don't like BS. I don't like to kiss ass. And I'm a good employee. If you want me to do something, it'll get done. I'm logical. I'm analytical. I'm efficient.



Thank you friends for your input. I appreciate it.

[backdrifter]

Yeah, it is kind of like throwing darts at a map, I agree. And yes, I'm also from Grants Pass.

I'm not sure what the unemployment figures are in Thurston (Olympia) and Whatcom (Bellingham) Counties. They're both college towns and rather liberal, especially Olympia. Olympia probably has more going on, being the state capital. Although The Evergreen State College in Olympia is a smaller school than Western Washington in Bellingham, it is way more radical and liberal. Both cities are located in very beautiful areas also. You might look into the local economies in those towns, especially Olympia. I hear many good things about it.

Personally I am not a fan of Corvallis. I'd pick Eugene over it any day, but Eugene has a worse economy than Corvallis. If I'm not mistaken, Corvallis/Benton County may be one of the better counties in the state as for its unemployment rate. Lane County's economy is not good, but the social environment is wonderful and I think any self-described iconoclast would feel really good about being there. Or in Portland for that matter. Eugene seems like it'd be a great fit for you actually. I, myself, was actually going to move to Eugene for school, but other things have come up so I'm going to Australia for a while instead. And I still may move to Eugene at some point. It's a great place besides its terrible economy.