Wanting to move to SC... (Columbia, Charleston: job market, income, living in)

[XiQuLiEaN]

I currently live in MA and I am very interested in moving to SC. I am 23 years old and work as a Vet tech. I dont want to live in the middle of a city, but i also dont want to live way out in the middle of no where. Does anyone have any suggestions as to which town/city would be the best choice to move to?

[PawleysDude]

Since you want to move here, I assume at some point you visited SC and liked something you saw. Which part of the state or what towns appealed to you? SC has a few relatively large cities, a whole lot of boondocks, and a ton of places that fall in between in relation to population. There's also quite a diversity of climates throughout the state, ranging from mountain foothills to hot and humid coastal areas. IMO, upstate SC is a good place to start investigating SC, but until you live here awhile and spend time in various parts of the state, it will be hard to know what feels like home.

Keep in mind that SC's unemployment rate is 12%+, third or fourth highest in the nation. If you will need a job, I'm afraid the real question is where can you find one of those. At the present time, approximately 250,000 South Carolinians are asking that question, and there are not many good answers. Regardless, good luck.

[pburgess68]

My upstairs neighbor is a vet tech. Well, she was my neighbor. She couldn't find a job so she went back to Florida. Like PD said, the unemployment rate is VERY high in SC. You may want to shop around for jobs before you even consider moving here so you don't waste your time. I think people are saying Greenville an Columbia (our capital) are doing ok for jobs. You'd have to check their forums to be sure. Horry county (Myrtle Beach), however, is below the average since we're mostly a tourist area.

Good luck in your search! Normally I say don't come here, but I'm tired of sounding like a broken record and I'm sure no one listens anway lol

[NewYorkBorn]

I am in total agreement with the first 2 posters. Job opportunities here in SC are limited............that was the case before the recession begin and it is definitely the case now that we are suffering with this recession. Unemployment rate here in South Carolina is one of the highest in the US and in addition to that the pay here is not good. There are a lot of people down at the unemployment office here in Greenville. PBurgess68 mentioned Greenville as one of the areas here in SC that may be doing ok............Greenville is definitely NOT doing ok. I was one of the people here in Greenville who was out of work a few months ago after a lay off. Spent a lot of days on the internet job boards looking for work here in Greenville...........waste of time.

In this state manufacturing, retail and healthcare jobs rule and are heavily depended on. Anyone that does not have a background in one of those industrys could easily find themselves in financial ruin. I would definitely recommend anyone considering moving here to think long and hard before giving up their job.

[Skyliner]

Originally Posted by NewYorkBorn

I am in total agreement with the first 2 posters. Job opportunities here in SC are limited...

Do you have a job now? If so, how did you find it? Why did you decide to stay when you had the option to return to the diverse job market in NY? Did the positive elements of life in Greenville outweigh the negative when you decided to remain here?

Originally Posted by XiQuLiEaN

I currently live in MA and I am very interested in moving to SC. I am 23 years old and work as a Vet tech. I dont want to live in the middle of a city, but i also dont want to live way out in the middle of no where. Does anyone have any suggestions as to which town/city would be the best choice to move to?

As the age-old cliché goes, there are two sides to every coin. For the percentage of unemployed people who desire an income and a better way of life, it is understandably difficult to see or acknowledge the good things around them right now. Without sugar coating reality, there are lots of people showing up at unemployment offices across the United States these days, thanks to an ongoing global economic recession/depression. Greenville, Columbia, Charleston, and the rest of SC are no different in that regard. Wise advice for anyone interested in relocation is to have employment secured ahead of time and learn as much as possible about the local job market ahead of time. One person's career field may be stronger or weaker than another in the locality of choice. Doing enough homework ahead of time can help ease a headache later when the world suddenly changes. Conversely, knowing the strengths of a place ahead of time can produce greater benefit when the world suddenly changes for the better.

The good news is that most people are holding onto a job and some industries are still expanding here despite the weakened economy. Fortunately your career happens to be part of a strong industry these days as more people than ever are doing whatever it takes to ensure that their pets are able to enjoy a long and healthy life. Thankfully we have lots of nice (and busy) veterinary hospitals and clinics in the Upstate. I have often seen advertisements for Vet tech openings, so there is certainly a demand for your service here. One of my favorites is Upstate Veterinary Specialists. A quick google search reveals several of the facilities in Greenville. I would recommend this area as a great place to begin your search in SC.

[NewYorkBorn]

Originally Posted by XiQuLiEaN

I currently live in MA and I am very interested in moving to SC. I am 23 years old and work as a Vet tech. I dont want to live in the middle of a city, but i also dont want to live way out in the middle of no where. Does anyone have any suggestions as to which town/city would be the best choice to move to?

Let's put it this way........3 people on here telling you the same thing about the employment situation here in SC can not be wrong!

PROCEED WITH EXTREME CAUTION!!

[rickyd]

To the original poster, LISTEN to these people because they are NOT lying. On some threads on this site, people just come on here making rants about a place, but in this case these people here aren't. I live here as well so and I know how bad it is.

If you decide to move to SC, make sure it is either in the upstate region or coastal. Avoid the middle parts because they are very rural, poor, lack of culture, and nothing to do (All of which is why I'm trying to move from here now), unless that is what you like. Different strokes for different folks after all.

[innovator82]

Originally Posted by XiQuLiEaN

I currently live in MA and I am very interested in moving to SC. I am 23 years old and work as a Vet tech. I dont want to live in the middle of a city, but i also dont want to live way out in the middle of no where. Does anyone have any suggestions as to which town/city would be the best choice to move to?

If your still reading this thread, how about some more constructive comments!

Just doing a search for "veterinary technician" in South Carolina on Simply Hired finds at least 6 advertised positions that you are likely qualified for. And guess what? All six are in good areas of our state to live (aka not in the "middle of nowhere)!
"veterinary technician" jobs - South Carolina | Simply Hired

Just as a personal suggestion, I would definitely apply for the position listed in Simpsonville. Suburb of Greenville, area is a GREAT nationally-ranked area to be in with lots going on, fellow Northerners like you, young people, etc.

I would apply to all six of these positions to start. As for your request as to which cities would be best to focus your search on, I would start with the three "main" metros in the state: Greenville/Spartanburg, Columbia, and Charleston. All three are great places to live overall and would likely provide you the most job opportunities. Include the surrounding towns in these areas and you'll be close to shopping, entertainment, new people to meet, etc.

Good luck. Hope to welcome you to SC sometime.

[XiQuLiEaN]

Thank you all for your replies. I don't plan on just packing up and moving tomorrow. This is something i plan to look into for a year or two. Im also considering living in NC as well. Before I move I would definately have to find a job first and then visit a few times. Thank u innovator82 for having some positive information. I understand its tough down there to find jobs, but we are also having some trouble up here as well. As for my job (vet tech) I feel that this field is growing fast because more and more people are wanting the best for their "children". Thank u again!