State Loses Jobs (Rapid City, Aberdeen, Mitchell: sales, apartment complexes, rental)

[R_Cowgirl]

Originally Posted by Chris19

I agree, although a good chunk of job losses in the time period mentioned is with seasonal workers (construction as an example-limited due to winters often not being favorable to construction). I think that if we all pull together as a people and as families and friends, we will get through the rough patch OK. Our area has weathered hard times better than most with the nature of our people pulling together in times of need and hardship.

We have gone through recessions and tough times before, some as severe as this situation and some worse. We will get through it. Think that it is the end of the world will not help matters any. A little faith and cooperation is needed in times like these.

I think that it will take at least another good year or two for things to turn around. Do I see challenges? Yes. But I think that we can get through them and will make us wiser and weed out the poorly run or inefficient businesses. As an optimist, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. How long the tunnel is is the big question.

Fortunately for Lincoln County and my area, things are going well, although people are more careful with spending and in general than per say two or three years ago.

I agree. One of the things to remember about South Dakota is its two most amazing natural resources: The beauty of SD and the beauty of SD People. This is a perfect time to encourage friends to visit and help boost the visitor industry. When people are stressed, a lovely place with friendly people is a far better vacation than fighting the traffic of LA or Orlando just to see Mickey Mouse.

If everyone encourages one friend to visit, you can go a long way towards helping increase jobs in the state. Then - let's give the airlines a reason to give us better flight schedules into the state!!!!!!

Help me by going to the thread on the Top Ten Things to do/see in SD. I'm giving a speech on it soon and would LOVE to hear your ideas! Thanks!!!

[R_Cowgirl]

Originally Posted by Jammie

Chris, I stand corrected. I believe the article in our paper also said 2001 and NOT 1991 like I posted. I actually didn't realize we had one since the late 70s/early 80s. Sorry I posted wrong info. Well, I was only a decade off.

Most recently, we had recessions in 1974, 1987, and 2001. I was in Hawaii for the one in 2001. 50,000 people lost their jobs in the state by December of 2001.

IMHO, the reason we don't remember or think about these recessions or what the govt had to do about them is simple: There was NO internet in 1974 and 1987, AND there was no 24/7 news. I think the media and the internet makes it worse. I worked all the way through the '74 and '87 recessions and really didn't KNOW I was supposed to be freaked out.

Bottom line-- in all of these recessions, the govt stepped in and did some job creation; people had to be resourceful and figure out how to do things differently; and the end result was that we got better and more efficient at things. These 'corrections' are like Mother Nature's hurricanes and forest fires. They're hell to live through and people do get hurt, but in the end, a lot of dross gets burned off and new growth reminds us that tomorrow is another day, another chance, another possibility.

[Jammie]

Just wanted to share this with you~

Last night I was watching a local show that was discussing the Recession. They had a local college Prof. who's specialty was history and economics. His opinion was that the country is in a recession and So. Dak. is just getting the very tip of it and that we could never expect to come out totally unscathed from it.

He went on to say that the duration of a recession is generally 12 to 24 months and that some had said it started in Dec., 2007, but he sees no signs of it beginning until mid 2008.

He didn't feel there was much cause for alarm and that this, too shall pass. (my words, not his) He said there had been many recessions like this throughout history, but the reason we don't realize it is because before the 1900s, they were called "Panics".

Just found it kinda interesting and wanted to share this.

[blackhillsdreams]

Originally Posted by Jammie

Just wanted to share this with you~

Last night I was watching a local show that was discussing the Recession. They had a local college Prof. who's specialty was history and economics. His opinion was that the country is in a recession and So. Dak. is just getting the very tip of it and that we could never expect to come out totally unscathed from it.

He went on to say that the duration of a recession is generally 12 to 24 months and that some had said it started in Dec., 2007, but he sees no signs of it beginning until mid 2008.

He didn't feel there was much cause for alarm and that this, too shall pass. (my words, not his) He said there had been many recessions like this throughout history, but the reason we don't realize it is because before the 1900s, they were called "Panics".

Just found it kinda interesting and wanted to share this.

Hiiiiiiiiiiii Jammie!

Well, you're right. There is no reason to be alarmed, as in "panic". It never does any good. Caution is the word of the day however. We all need to be cautious of the way we spend and save and keep a watchful eye on our jobs, but not at the level of being in a state of panic, just more of a sense of heightened awareness to avoid making dumb mistakes.

Nothing lasts forever, good times and bad times all pass by. I was watching the documentary on the History Channel yesterday about the "Black Blizzard's" of the 30's when the dust bowl drought was destroying the plains states. Man, anyone that thinks we have it bad now, know's nothing about what REALLY bad times are compared to that.

[nanjosbrand]

Originally Posted by R_Cowgirl

If everyone encourages one friend to visit, you can go a long way towards helping increase jobs in the state. Then - let's give the airlines a reason to give us better flight schedules into the state!!!!!!

Help me by going to the thread on the Top Ten Things to do/see in SD. I'm giving a speech on it soon and would LOVE to hear your ideas! Thanks!!!

What a great idea!! Now, where are you giving this speech and why? Make sure you mention those prairie dogs!! I'm telling you, that is soooo neat to see!!

[Jammie]

Originally Posted by blackhillsdreams

Hiiiiiiiiiiii Jammie!

Well, you're right. There is no reason to be alarmed, as in "panic". It never does any good. Caution is the word of the day however. We all need to be cautious of the way we spend and save and keep a watchful eye on our jobs, but not at the level of being in a state of panic, just more of a sense of heightened awareness to avoid making dumb mistakes.

Nothing lasts forever, good times and bad times all pass by. I was watching the documentary on the History Channel yesterday about the "Black Blizzard's" of the 30's when the dust bowl drought was destroying the plains states. Man, anyone that thinks we have it bad now, know's nothing about what REALLY bad times are compared to that.

You are definitely right. I have one living relative who went through the Great Depression and he laughs at what we call hard times now. My parents and all their sibs, my grandparents, etc. all went through those dust bowl years. They went through times when food was so scarce it had to be rationed so it'd last the week. The dust bowl spanned for many square miles and several states and there were years that nothing could be grown in the fields. We're nowhere near that point and hopefully we won't be either.

[R_Cowgirl]

Originally Posted by nanjosbrand

What a great idea!! Now, where are you giving this speech and why? Make sure you mention those prairie dogs!! I'm telling you, that is soooo neat to see!!

I agree- I love the Prairie dogs!
I'll be at the Governors Conference on Tourism in 10 days. Woo hoo! I see that it's going to be sunny and about 26 degrees. Hope the wind chill behaves itself. Can't wait to get up there. Even though it's warmer here in Phx, there's something wonderful and calming about SD for me. I'll report in from Pierre!

[DannyBanany]

That's very interesting Jammie but I have to bring in a dark cloud. A buddy of mine in Mitchell has applied at 17 different jobs and none of them have gotten back to him.

Also, is it true that Ruby Tuesday is closing its doors in Mitchell?

[Chris19]

Originally Posted by blackhillsdreams

Hiiiiiiiiiiii Jammie!

Well, you're right. There is no reason to be alarmed, as in "panic". It never does any good. Caution is the word of the day however. We all need to be cautious of the way we spend and save and keep a watchful eye on our jobs, but not at the level of being in a state of panic, just more of a sense of heightened awareness to avoid making dumb mistakes.

Nothing lasts forever, good times and bad times all pass by. I was watching the documentary on the History Channel yesterday about the "Black Blizzard's" of the 30's when the dust bowl drought was destroying the plains states. Man, anyone that thinks we have it bad now, know's nothing about what REALLY bad times are compared to that.

Kinda interesting. I have seen the same show on the history channel and agree with your assessment. My great-great grandparents were wheat farmers up in the north central part of SD and did fairly well before the depression. The bank that had their money folded and the great-great grandparents lost all of their money unfortunately. My great-grandparents had their start in farming during that time and was not a pleasant start. Before the depression, my great grandparents drank coffee and after the depression and even until a few years ago (before they passed away) still drank hot water instead of coffee (because they could not afford coffee and times were very rough for them). I can see why my great-grandparents were very very conservative with money and material things. The story may be similar with others who were in farming and in general.

It was unreal to realize that the dust crept into the house and in cases caused disease. I would rather us not have that again.

As for South Dakota farmers, if the dry conditions like the 2002-2006 time period happened in 2008 and now, South Dakota and other farm-belt states would be in a world of hurt. As of now, things are not easy but we need to count our blessings.

[Jammie]

Originally Posted by DannyBanany

That's very interesting Jammie but I have to bring in a dark cloud. A buddy of mine in Mitchell has applied at 17 different jobs and none of them have gotten back to him.

Also, is it true that Ruby Tuesday is closing its doors in Mitchell?

I don't know. I guess it's possible. We do have a lot of restaurants around and we've often wondered how they all survive. The only thing that makes me doubt it at all is the fact that they have an ad in the paper looking for employees.

This time of year has always been a bit slow around here, BUT after applying at 17 different places, you'd think someone would be hiring. All we can do is wait until springtime and see if things loosen up a bit. I'm not sure what your friend does, but I do know that two places cut their employees to 32 hrs. per week and one place laid off about 10% of their workforce and closed for two or three weeks.

There was recently an article that I was reading and they said our state has now grown to over 800,000 people. They said the news was good, BUT that the smaller towns were still suffereing because the growth was just at two places on opposite sides of the state. Yup, Sx. Falls and Rapid were the reasons for the gain in population according to the article.