Tampa Bay booming, Florida’s rapid growth, Tampa metro, poor infrastructure and growing pains, old homes, new condos, cheaper cost of living, job salaries

radraja · 03-02-2008, 11:38 PM

Florida is a rapidly growing state. Job growth in the Tampa metro is supposed to be very high over the next decade or so.

My sister has been transferred to Tampa from the Phoenix metro (job situation), and wants to know what to expect. Does the Tampa metro have the same "boom town" atmosphere as western cities? Or does the region model more of a "smart growth"? Does population growth seem to be within control for the most part?

She adores Phoenix, but has felt the brunt of poor infrastructure and growing pains, and is hoping that Tampa will be an improvement.

Any insight?

stpeteguy · 03-03-2008, 02:32 AM

Tampa has no "boom". Our country is in the middle of a bad recession. Tampa is not immune to it's effects. Good jobs are scarce and cost of living is high.

sunflower101 · 03-03-2008, 03:08 AM

There is no big boom here. most of the Tampa area is pretty much run down with old houses. There are new development down town but most of these new condos are empty.

TXRyan23 · 03-03-2008, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stpeteguy

Tampa has no "boom". Our country is in the middle of a bad recession. Tampa is not immune to it's effects. Good jobs are scarce and cost of living is high.

Realistically, I see hundreds, if not close to or exceeding thousands of jobs availible in the Tampa/St. Pete/Lakeland area and that doesn't include the basic stuff like fast food, grocery, gas stations, and retail stores, ect, ect..

I haven't lived in the Bay Area in 10 years and remember having a hard time finding a job, Is it still like that ?

If I come down, will I have a hard time finding work or are jobs pretty much plenty ?

JSnFla · 03-03-2008, 05:53 AM

theres almost no work here unless u r highly experienced with a specialized skill.....

MarketingGuy · 03-03-2008, 06:05 AM

That's pretty generalized, but as stpeteguy said, the US is in a recession - Tampa is not immune.

rtjr · 03-03-2008, 06:55 AM

So what I'm reading here is that the Tampa area is run down and there are no jobs here which makes me wonder what the millions of people that live in this area actually do with themselves everyday. Point is, please take what you read on this forum with a huge grain of salt. Yes, growth in this state has definitely slowed but there are plenty of jobs available in this region and it obviously will depend on which industry you're looking into.

MarketingGuy · 03-03-2008, 06:56 AM

Agreed with above.

TXRyan23 · 03-03-2008, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSpiro

That's pretty generalized, but as stpeteguy said, the US is in a recession - Tampa is not immune.

There are TONS of jobs availible in Houston that pay good and don't have nearly the competition for them. Add in the cheaper cost of living and I think I have a winner.

I guess that's the good thing about Texas as compared to Florida, Texas isn't a tourist trap.

TXRyan23 · 03-03-2008, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtjr

Yes, growth in this state has definitely slowed but there are plenty of jobs available in this region and it obviously will depend on which industry you're looking into.

I've personally looked through job ads and noticed that hardly anything pays more then $10-15 an hour and the ones that ARE availible for those salaries, You either have to have a Bachelors degree or 7 years experience or in some cases, Both.