Should we give up on ever returning to the Burgh? (Pittsburgh: universities, income)

[globalburgh]

Originally Posted by claremarie

I'd recommend moving to Pittsburgh before Westinghouse opens its new campus.

Once in the Burgh, your husband won't have much trouble finding work or another career track.

Very bad idea. Pittsburgh is NOT the sort of town where you can count on getting a job because of the vibrant economy and the growth in industry. There is a reason that there are Steeler bars all over the country.

The reason there are Steelers bars all around the country is because of an economic shock that has long since passed. The exodus is over, almost 20 years now (an entire generation ago). Yet the Pittsburgh Pessimism lives on, often without any grounding in reality.

The 80s are over.

[guylocke]

I get e-mails DAILY from people all over the country, some with promising news and some not. My best advice for you is to simply start sending out e-mails. Pick some companies in Pittsburgh that might use computers heavily(National City, PNC, PPG, Alcoa, Mellon, Westinghouse, American Eagle) and who he may have an interest in working for and get on those home pages and sniff out the career tabs. Send some short e-mails to the HR department or career contacts and say "Hi! My name is so-and-so and briefly list some education and credentials and reasons why you want to relocate to Pittsburgh and ask if there is anyone they would recommend getting in touch with or can you send a resume." I mean all they can say is "we aren't hiring at this time" and you would be AMAZED at how fast networking can happen. My friends are floored when I get e-mailes and personal phone calls DAILY from recruiters and HR departments. Then again, my degree is in high demand, but still..

Here is a list of Fortune 500 companies located in Pittsburgh.

Allegheny Technologies
H. J. Heinz Company
Mellon Financial Corporation
PNC Financial
PPG Industries
WESCO International
U.S. Steel

Here are Fortune 1000:
Fortune 1000 Corporations:

Allegheny Energy
American Eagle Outfitters
Consol Energy
Dick's Sporting Goods
Kennametal
Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel

Can I personally recommend American Eagle? They just re-located their GORGEOUS headquarters to the South Side and they are growing IMMENSELY. It is a very good company to work for and has an extensive online customer base. I even have a few contacts within their web design department. Interested?

[guylocke]

The reason there are Steelers bars all around the country is because of an economic shock that has long since passed. The exodus is over, almost 20 years now (an entire generation ago). Yet the Pittsburgh Pessimism lives on, often without any grounding in reality.

The 80s are over.

Very very true. And yet, we aren't 100% recovered by any means, although we are certainly heading in that direction. Even still, the job market in Pittsburgh is still quite tight, but manageable and continuously getting better. I cannot recommend coming without some sort of financial security, though, that goes for ANY place in the country.

[globalburgh]

Originally Posted by boylocke

Very very true. And yet, we aren't 100% recovered by any means, although we are certainly heading in that direction. Even still, the job market in Pittsburgh is still quite tight, but manageable and continuously getting better. I cannot recommend coming without some sort of financial security, though, that goes for ANY place in the country.

A job in healthcare would be a nice hedge, mitigating the risk involved.

In addition to your suggestions above, I would recommend reading PopCity in order to keep track of growing small IT businesses. For example, check out the story on Guru.com.

[PApisces]

Originally Posted by boylocke

PApisces I hear you loud and clear. However (and I don't mean to stray off topic) but we better get used to this.. because we will definitely not die in the same country we were born. White people of European descent, like you and I, the founders of this country, will be a minority someday. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, good or bad, it's just a fact... BUT PLEASE, at least LEARN English and get your children educated when you come here for a better life.

You are right. It's sad but true. :-( If you listen closely, you can almost hear the chants of "entitlement" in the air, like you can hear the sound of the ocean in a sea shell! lol

What strikes me most is that whenever the illegals and the legals that support their "cause" march in TX, They carry the MEXICAN flag, not the US flag. It is no longer a matter of immigration. Rather, it is a matter of INVASION by criminals (illegally crossing the border=CRIMINAL act; regardless of how they try and positively spin it).

Had that god-forsaken "Amnesty" bill passed, that would have opened the door to 20 million+ illegals to circumvent the immigration laws and allow them to EACH bring at least one family member over with them. We can't seem to provide for our own citizens; just imagine instantaneously having to support 40+ million more!!!

I live in what was formerally a fairly affluent section of Dallas called Addison. Wal-Mart opened a "supercenter" about a mile from me in November of 2006. Now, there are bums, hookers and drug dealers all over the place; Prior to 11/06, there was 1 car broken into while I lived here (6/04-present). This last 12 months, there have been 10 cars broken into, 2 motorcycles stolen, the Soda machine was vandalized, then ultimately stolen and 3 apts have been burglarized.

Between Wal-Mart's opening and the Katrina "victims" that have permanently taken up residence in DFW, the city is no longer safe to live in.

[guylocke]

Here is a bit more you might find useful.

Other major employers in the Pittsburgh area include the operations center for Alcoa, the North American headquarters for Bayer, GlaxoSmithKline and Lanxess. Pittsburgh is the Northeast U.S. regional headquarters for Nova Chemicals, FedEx Ground, Ariba, Rand, and National City. Guru.com, 84 Lumber, Giant Eagle, Highmark, Rue 21, and GENCO are major non-public companies with headquarters in the region. Other major companies headquartered in Pittsburgh include Mylan Laboratories, General Nutrition Center (GNC), and CNX Gas (CXG), a subsidiary of Consol Energy.

[claremarie]

The reason there are Steelers bars all around the country is because of an economic shock that has long since passed. The exodus is over, almost 20 years now (an entire generation ago). Yet the Pittsburgh Pessimism lives on, often without any grounding in reality.

The 80s are over.

But the effects remain. The population has shrunk considerably, many industries are gone for good, and the employment market is simply not strong enough to justify anyone moving to Pittsburgh without first lining up a job.

[JoeP]

+/- 40,000 people move to Pittsburgh every year. These are Americans from other cities, this doesn't count births or international migration, so that means most of these people are coming for jobs.

[globalburgh]

Originally Posted by claremarie

But the effects remain. The population has shrunk considerably, many industries are gone for good, and the employment market is simply not strong enough to justify anyone moving to Pittsburgh without first lining up a job.

At this point, the main legacy is the disproportionate pessimism with regard to the current economic climate. Ironically, the biggest problem with the job market is that too few graduates choose to leave. This depresses wages. For outsiders looking to move back to the region, job creation is the issue of greatest concern. However, the captive labor market makes the likely cut in salary prohibitive.

That said, even the Pittsburgh region has some labor shortages in a few sectors. Furthermore, a niche hi-tech shortage is in the pipeline.

If someone really wants to live in the Burgh, they should either train to fit in those labor shortages or start a business.

Lastly, a job in health care is a good plan to ride out the spouse's local job search. Many local employers prefer to hire locals, because they can afford to do so and save the expense of relocation. If you can find a way to manage it, relocating first will provide you with a competitive advantage for jobs.

[guylocke]

At this point, the main legacy is the disproportionate pessimism with regard to the current economic climate. Ironically, the biggest problem with the job market is that too few graduates choose to leave. This depresses wages. For outsiders looking to move back to the region, job creation is the issue of greatest concern. However, the captive labor market makes the likely cut in salary prohibitive.

This is completely true.

justify anyone moving to Pittsburgh without first lining up a job

I don't really think this is a Pittsburgh specific thing. I think this is financial common sense.