Portland Economy (Redwood: hotel, home, job market)

[ohioan007]

Whenever I ask people about pro's and con's of Portland versus Seattle they always bring up how Seattle and Washington state in general are better in terms of jobs and employment. Finding a great job in either advertising or marketing is my biggest concern about Portland if I were to relocate there. Is the Portland area economy really so bad? With such high population growth you'd think high or at least steady economic growth would come along with it?

[Nea1]

No the economy isnt that bad, just Seattle has more to offer you in your feild, and honestly Portland is very Pretty but Seattle is amazing. alot of major corporations have their advertising out of Seattle, and marketing is huge there. you can pm me for more info on either city.

[tiffela74]

okay, this is just MY personal opinion,but I like Portland better, I like OREGON better, but please, keep in mind, Im a very proud Oregonian, and admittedly, I have the mindset that Oregon is the best state to live in, period. lol
you know, i really think it depends on what your looking for. Ive lived at the boarder, and my husband (gasp) used to live in Washington (he too, prefers Oregon, good man! lol) and ive been in Wash. about as often as Ore. lol. I get lost EVERYTIME I go to Seattle. Maybe its just cuz im in tears and scared to death, but people seem in more of a rush, and less likely to stop and help then they do in Portland. Okay, heres a short story, I had a crappy car. It died a lot. It died several times in downtown Portland. W/o me even asking, I had people helping me push it off to the side, no yelling, just helping. And people peering under my hood trying to fix it. A lady that used her phone to call my brother to come and help while her bf tinkered for a good 1/2hr trying to get me going again. - okay, up to Seattle. Car dies, Im sitting there, people whizzing by me, honking, only slowing down to scream nasty stuff at me- Im bawling and noone ever stopped to help. That was bad. Hubby and I stayed a weekend in Seattle, just tryingto havea "getaway weekend" and were in a decent hotel downtown. Well, imagine our shock (not to mention loss of romance) when we heard all this commotion below out balcony and some guy got shot and killed not 15feet away! okay, im not dumb, lots of rude and nasty people live in Portland, and people get shot/killed here too, but truly, it just seems that people as a whole in Ore. are more laid back and friendly than in Washington. (A "SORRY!!" shout to my Wash. friends/family! )
As for your job market, well, put apps out to both and see what comes back. Talk to companies from both states and see which has better bennies/happier employees/etc. See which would fit you better. That'd be my advice.
Best of luck to ya!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tiffany

[Des_Demona]

Ick Seattle sounds like LA... no thanks that's what I'm trying to get away from. I hate corporations! I'm all about the small businesses. Thanks for your input Tiffany as always.

[Nea1]

Oh my gosh I lived in portland and Seattle and Portland has every bit the corporte environment that Seattle does, Seattle is no way like LA, not even close, it is full of Art and culture and beauty, lots of walking and parks and wonderful people. I was born and raised in Portland and it could learn a thing or two.

[tiffela74]

oh man, Nea1 and I are gonna butt heads on this one. lol - I think we should agree to disagree, cuz I know (well, i think we all know now. lol) I definatly think Portland is better --- BUT!!!!! I do want to say I agree here with Nea1, theres no way Seattle is anything like LA. It is friendlier, less scary, less crime, cleaner,way less pollution, all things better except not too many movie stars there and it isnt as warm/dry. But please, where I rate Portland higher than Seattle in most things, I rate Seattle WAY WAY WAY above LA or even most of California (only not the Redwoods, gotta love those Redwoods. )
Tiffany

[Nea1]

Originally Posted by tiffela74

oh man, Nea1 and I are gonna butt heads on this one. lol - I think we should agree to disagree, cuz I know (well, i think we all know now. lol) I definatly think Portland is better --- BUT!!!!! I do want to say I agree here with Nea1, theres no way Seattle is anything like LA. It is friendlier, less scary, less crime, cleaner,way less pollution, all things better except not too many movie stars there and it isnt as warm/dry. But please, where I rate Portland higher than Seattle in most things, I rate Seattle WAY WAY WAY above LA or even most of California (only not the Redwoods, gotta love those Redwoods. )
Tiffany

No butting heads here, everyone has their own view, I lived in both cities so thats where I get my opinion from, I love Portland, it was my home for 32 years, it is nice to see other areas though, I have found places I love more for other reasons, but I will not allow people to bash it for stupid narrow minded reasons, as in another post by someone we both didnt approve of!!!

[fairweathergolfer]

Hey all. This is a fun vibrant thread. I have enjoyed reading it. Two things stood out. First Seattle also a very, very vibrant city for entrepreneurs. The reason there are so many successful corporations in Seattle is because each started originally as a small business and boomed, boomed, boomed. You name it it is one of the top places to start ANY business. By the age of 25 I had already successfully started and ran two businesses, both of which have long been sold (as their educational system is also the best--I went on to get a college degree at the same time and moved on to new areanas). Both businesses are still up and running and a success today. Seattle is one of the best places to thrive as an independent entrepreneur. I can't comment on Portland, except to say in the animation and graphic arts it is a really great place to start a smaller business or at least used to be in the 90's. Other then that I don't know.

I have lived in all three places and am presently in LA. One thing LA has that is really non existent in both Seattle and Portland (THANK GOD!!!!) is massive narcissism--everywhere!! EVERYWHERE. This complete self absorbtion and selfishness really breeds the rudeness everyone hears about and it can really change even the most kind of people and make them cynical and untrusting in a major way if they don't do something to take serious care of themselves and get out of themselves in some way. LA is incredibly materialistic and people are very, very ambitious (so step aside unless you are charging forward--you'll get run right over) and superficial. There are a few really great people here and kind, but it takes time to find them, that is for sure! The people themselves over time become naturally untrusting, no matter how nice they were when they arrived. Some hold onto this kindness though. I have met some really neat and very wonderful people here though.

Where as in Seattle and Portland there are nice people, that are not afraid to think and debate and I miss and love that. They like to hang out in the NW--I miss that too. Just hanging out. People in the NW are smart people. Atleast in Seattle where I have spent most of my adulthood.

Seattle definately is more 'where do you work, what do you do for a living' oriented compared to Portland. That can be annoying, especially if you are laid back and are more of a free spirit artist type (even if you are making big money and are a success in the art areana this dumb question is so-o annoying and asked ALOT in Seattle.

In Portland I feel there is more freedom. In Los Angeles, people who are totally laid back can make major money in the arts, so it is vibrant in that people don't judge what you do, because people are doing all sorts of things here in their own way in their own time. But it is near to impossible to make friends that will actually see you as opposed to talk to you daily on their cell phone. There are a lot of phone friendships here. I found in Seattle, my friends loved to get together for a coffee or reading or go to the museum or whatever and it was nice. Portland I am unsure of here. But people there I am sure are very kind and friendly. JMO

[OREGONRAIN]

I say things like they are, because that is what I would want someone to do, if I was moving to a different locale, with that said. Portland is a very nice area to live in, it beats alot of places by a long shot, however we all need a job or no place is desirable. Portland has had some issues with its economy and high unemployment, anyone that tells you differently may mean well, but Im sorry, the area has had problems with people finding work here, I belive it has improved some, it was much worse in the past few years. This is not a place with a whole lot of industry to begin with. The biggest job gainers like many places is in the medical field. Send out your resumes, I am sure you have done that, try to make some contacts here in the area if you can, and see what happens, In closing all I can say is, You will like it here, it is kind of a special place in some ways, but get the job first.

[Waterlily]

Hello! I am not jumping on any one person here but I do want this Portland forum to be about Portland and not some other place. This is just a reminder to stay on topic.
Have a good day.