Wanting to know the work situation around Gillette (home, unemployment)

[smith11]

Well....we thought our family would be living in Gillette by now. We actually thought we were going to be moving in March but with the economy and the hiring freeze at the mines that was all put to a abrapt halt. So not being there I was just wondering if the, summer months finally here; if anything has picked up any as far as hiring and work around the area expecially the mines. I look online at the newspaper and compared to last years work wanted ads it is still very low. So just wanted to see if I could get a insiders view on the situation in my great home state. Thanks!!

[WyoNewk]

Unemployment is still on the rise. I think it's around 5% now. If the Cap and Trade bill passes the Senate, it'll be much higher. Sadly, even if it doesn't, investors are afraid to plunk money into anything with a carbon footprint. Coalbed methane drilling and oil exploration has all but stopped.

The good news is that housing is more plentiful in Gillette than it's ever been. And the official outlook for Gillette is still good.

The coal mines are not shutting down. Coal shipments will likely be off 3-5% this year but should rebound when the general economy improves. I'm not sure about hiring freezes. Fewer people are leaving the mines because of the poor economy, so fewer new hires are needed.

I'm not an insider, however. I read the paper, and that's about it.

[nocatee]

Gillette was booming but from what I've been hearing it isn't any more at all (I live just east of there in the SD/Black Hills). From what I'm hearing - be sure you have a CONFIRMED job and affordable housing arranged before moving a family there.

[GEORGIAINMT]

There aren't freezes at all the mines. I just heard that one has 8 openings for one particular type job. Not sure which one, though, sorry!

[lj1983]

there aren't hiring freezes, but some positions are no longer being hired for, and the list of applicants for other positions is pretty long