still considering moving to roanoke (Salem: credit, job market, transfer)

[kitkat70]

I was curious with the economy being the way it is, how is roanoke holding up in regards to jobs? My job is in human resource and my spouse is in blue collar... forklift operator and we were wondering is this a good time to relocate to the area? I can't seem to get enough information on jobs in roanoke for our fields. Since this recession, have alot of people relocated out of the area,etc? Any advice or suggestions on what industry is doing good right now would be appreciated.

thx

kitykat

[540_804]

I don't think very many people have moved out of the area because of the recession. Its a pretty inexpensive place to live. I'm not sure if there is much job growth in the area, but you don't really see the massive layoffs that you read and hear about in other areas.

I'm not sure how easy or difficult it would be finding a HR job for you, but I did notice that as I was searching for part-time summer work on craigslist there were quite a few warehouse jobs in Roanoke and Salem that needed workers who could operate forklifts...

[kitkat70]

Thanks for the response. I will continue to keep looking in the area and at jobs. I dont want to give up because roanoke is a beautiful area where we would like to relocate if we can find jobs. thanks again

kitykat

[OuttaFlorida]

I'd sit tight and not make a move anywhere unless at least one of you has a job that could support both of you lined up. If you do, then come on over! If not, keep looking on craigslist, indeed, and the surrounding city and county websites. Good luck. I'm not sure of the economic status and job market particulars here, but I'm pretty sure there hasn't been actual job growth.

[mccamp]

We moved to Roanoke shortly after the stock market tanked last year. My husband had his job lined up. I found one a couple months after landing in Roanoke. Companies everywhere--not just in Roanoke--are holding tight. You may not find full employment with benefits. But you may find contract work.

We moved here from Boston, and Roanoke is no where close to hurting as much as Boston and some of the larger cities.

[kitkat70]

mccamp

I'm sure Roanoke isnt hurting as much as other larger cities but it still makes me uneasy. Can I ask you what line of work you are in? When you say it took you a few months to find employment was it because of your field, or just not alot of companies hiring?

thank

kitkat

[Tshie]

Man anybody is nuts to move somewhere without a job lined up. No matter what your field. Roanoke is not a job mecca, and neither is anywhere else right now. National unemployment is nearing 10%.

I think in the end you have to go where the right work is for you. I moved to this area about a year ago only because of a job transfer. Before that I rarely heard of it.

[highway29south]

We have been looking in Roanoke for a long time now, even before the economy went downhill. There just seems to be very few jobs. I'm not sure what the secret is for getting a job there, but we have tried everything- networking, visiting, applying for any job available, even posting on CD. Most of the time we don't even get a response, let alone an interview.

I really wish it was different because I miss living in VA!

[mccamp]

Originally Posted by kitkat70

mccamp

I'm sure Roanoke isnt hurting as much as other larger cities but it still makes me uneasy. Can I ask you what line of work you are in? When you say it took you a few months to find employment was it because of your field, or just not alot of companies hiring?

It took me a few months to find a job for a number of reasons:

My field (communications strategy and media relations) and the industries where I have experience (political strategy/education) isn't as abundant in SW Virginia as other areas (like Boston, San Francisco, New York, etc.).

I wanted to make certain my family was settled before I hit the job market full force

I wasn't networked into the community. I was well established in Boston. If I wanted to work, I picked up the phone, sent a couple of emails and then I was working. I didn't know a soul in Roanoke. I had to leave my house, shake hands, chit chat and make personal connections. I had to do employ the same strategy when I moved to Boston 12 years ago, too. (So, it's not a Roanoke thing. It's just the way it is.)

I've spoken with a number of my colleagues around the country--from all different industries--and there aren't many people hiring. Period. I don't care what city it is, what area of the country you're in. Folks are holding tight. They have no idea where the economy is going and some have voiced concerns over inflation, higher taxes, etc. There is one bright spot: healthcare. (Though I've heard that some hospitals are holding off hiring because they don't know where health-care reform is going and they want to be as flexible as possible.)

You're not the only person who is worried about the economy. Every single person I know is scared, and they won't feel better until they some tangible signs (friends finding jobs, credit markets loosening, some positive news in the housing sector, etc.)