Construction work in South Dakota (Sioux Falls, Rapid City: sales, real estate, 2009)

[PapaDoc313]

Hello, everyone.

Here's the story. Me and a friend have been planning a relocation for a few months now. We made this decision based on several factors. One, we have lived here, in Northern California, our entire lives and want to experience something else. We are both twenty-two years old and think that doing this now is the best time while we still have few obligations (unmarried, no kids, no long term bills, etc...) to settle us down. We have also grown tired of the way California has been going, gotten sick of our weather, our high cost of living, and of over population. We both feel that it is a good time to strike out on our own and, whether it works out of not, at least give it a try.

So, having spent time over the last couple of months trying to decide where might be a good place to go I recently, for the first time, took a look at spots around South Dakota. Honestly, it seems like an ideal place for us. Primarily, we are looking for an area with truer seasons (and real winters), a lower cost of living / housing, and low to average crime. SD seems to have it all (as well as, as far as I can tell from these boards, very friendly people).

The one hold up I've had, however, is the job outlook. We have both worked construction for a large portion of our adult lives and would like to resume that in some manner when we move and (hopefully) eventually get going our own construction business. I have not been able, though, to find much information on construction openings in SD - primarily I am looking at Sioux Falls but would have no problem with Rapid City.

The one other thing is that Ohama, NE, while not as appealing in other aspects as SD, does have a stable economy that is actually trying to fill thousands of positions (go figure, huh) and from the charts that I've seen is one of the top 10 cities in the U.S. for contractors.

I apologize for this being so long. I guess my question is whether any residents know much about the outlook for construction laborers in South Dakota - or would it be better to focus more on areas around Omaha? I also know that Sioux Falls to Omaha is about 3 hours but I don't see living in SF and commuting when we could just relocate to Omaha, if that's the case.

If it matters, we are planning on moving sometime between early February and early March, 2009.

Thanks for everyone's help. Hopefully, I'll hear some good news about this because South Dakota looks like a great state.

[DannyBanany]

PapaDoc, welcome to the South Dakota forum!

Rapid City and Sioux Falls are both growing very steadily and this housing slump has not really effected the midwest as much as it has the coasts, as I'm sure you are aware. You would easily be able to find a job in any city. Both cities are great places to live, and have low unemployment, but they are worlds different. Sioux Falls is about twice the size of Rapid City and is one of the fastest-growing cities in the midwest. Pay is better in Sioux Falls and the COL is slightly lower than Rapid City's. However, Sioux Falls has worse weather. Summers are very humid, winters are frigid cold, it is very windy, and it's out in the middle of the prairie so there is not much to really do.

Rapid City's COL is higher and wages are lower than Sioux Falls but Rapid City has mild dry winters and snow melts within a couple days. Rapid City has hot dry summers and the best part is that it is set on the foothills of the Black Hills. You can ski, hunt, hike, mountainclimb, fish, go boating, etc. And pretty much any activity you can think of is just minutes away from your door.

If you have any other questions feel free to ask away. If you are interested in Rapid City let me know and I can give you some contacts to contractors here in town. Once again, welcome!

[Jammie]

Constuction companies do a lot of hiring in South Dakota. The problem is that right now I couldn't tell you which ads I've seen recently.

You could check out the Rapid City Journal and the Sioux Falls Argus Leader. Career Connections and the unemployment office may also be good resources

The construction openings are generally in larger display ads when listed in the newspaper.

In either of the three places, keep in mind that we do have winter and construction is generally slower. By the time you plan on moving, they should be starting to do their hiring. Some construction continues through the winter (inside) and other workers go on unemployment for a few months.



Are you talking about road construction or building construction? That may narrow it down a bit.

Any of the three are a good choice. The one thing I'd keep in mind is that Neb. has a state income tax and So. Dak. doesn't. We probably have a higher real estate tax so it may be a wash.

Omaha seems to be doing quite well and thankfully, So. Dak. has the lowest unemployment rate in the nation.

Let us know how you turn out and I'm sure any of the three places would welcome you.

[rjl78]

Have you looked at Gillette at all? Most coal field jobs pay better than construction. Something to consider if you haven't already.

[andyroo]

i have found a few construction companies in rapid city, here are their websites

good luck

J. Scull Construction Service, Inc.

Construction company in Rapid City - Schad Construction

All Star Construction :: Design/Build Construction, Remodeling and Home Improvement for Rapid City, South Dakota Area

Rapid City Real Estate - Avalon Construction

Mandalay Homes | New homes | Rapid City, South Dakota

Dean Kurtz Contruction

Lind-Exco, Site Preparation-Utilities- Enviromental Services

Dean Kelly Construction Home Page

Find Employment

[rjl78]

If you like running heavy equipment and moving dirt Zansta would be the company to work for.

[ashnat]

Omaha has great job outlooks, and pay is great. If you look at col in Rapid and Omaha, they look about the same.
In Rapid, homes are expensive, rent is cheap, property taxes are cheap, licensing is cheap, but pay is cheap also.
In Omaha, homes are cheaper than Rapid, but property taxes are double, and licensing is ridiculous. With property taxes in Rapid, you even get a view of the mountains, in Omaha it's double with no pretty view at all. $500 to license a new car plus 8% sales tax when you buy a new car. Gas averages 25 to 30 cents cheaper than Rapid. You'd find about the same in gas prices in Sioux Falls.
I don't know, it's a toss up. If you don't want to completely leave "the city feel" you'll like Omaha. If you love the outdoors, you'll love Rapid. Sioux Falls is a lot like Omaha, but a much smaller feel. Sioux Falls is a great community.

[rjl78]

I guess I get a differnt vibe than you ashnat about Sioux Falls. But that is just me.

I like both Sioux Falls and Omaha. You might be right.

[ashnat]

What do you think? What vibe do you get of Sioux Falls? Just curious. I only lived there a year, but lived in Vermillion and Sioux City another 2 years. Compared to Sewer City, I LOVED Sioux Falls It's interesting to hear others vibes.

[rjl78]

Sioux Falls seems to have its own feel to me. Pierre tries to be like Sioux Falls.

Twin cities feels strangely home like to me and some what welcoming. Omaha and KC seem to have the same vibe. Omaha kinda has it own feel IMO.