PLEASE HELP. Best place to live in California in your opinion? (San Francisco: real estate, job openings)

[Den Mathias]

Originally Posted by ellet87

I would like to hear realistic answers, but I am coming regardless of any unemployment issues in the state. That is why I am asking for advice on HOW to make it over there not whether or not I should go?

Things like good places to live, how to go about finding jobs (possibly before I leave New Zealand), and how to find a place to live, would be great to find out.

I am an educated person with a good work ethic looking to find a job, not a drop out with no work skills, and not much of an interest in working. I'm sure there is a job to be found, even if it is something like waitressing.

Let me see................36,756,666 Californians. An unemployment rate of 11.6%. So, we have 4,263,773 folks without a job!

What do you think your chances are of finding a job and newly arrived in the state????

Heck, even with waitressing you will have a tough time figuring out the food and making change. I am not trying to be difficult........just realistic.

[Count David]

Originally Posted by Den Mathias

Let me see................36,756,666 Californians. An unemployment rate of 11.6%. So, we have 4,263,773 folks without a job!

What do you think your chances are of finding a job and newly arrived in the state????

Heck, even with waitressing you will have a tough time figuring out the food and making change. I am not trying to be difficult........just realistic.

The 11.6% unemployment rate is the percentage of people that want jobs (the labor force) that do not have one. It doesn't take into account every single breathing Californian.

For example:

In 2000 (census), there were 33,871,648 breathing Californians. Of those, there were 15,829,202 breathing Californians in the civilian labor force (those that have or are seeking jobs). In 2000, 7.0% were unemployed, or 1,110,274 (of that 15,829,202). Hence, a 7.0% unemployment rate.

The unemployment rate doesn't take into account every single person, it excludes retirees, SAHM/D's, the disabled, children, and those that don't want or need to work.

While the unemployment rate in CA is indeed high, it doesn't mean a newcomer would be competing with 4.2 million people for jobs.

If we were to use the same civilian labor force percentage that existed in 2000 (46.7%), and your current population stat (36,756,666), along with the current unemployment rate (11.6%), that would mean 1,991,182 don't have jobs. That would be the more accurate number in place of your 4.2 million number above.

I hope I've been of some help.

[Den Mathias]

Originally Posted by David Aguilar

The 11.6% unemployment rate is the percentage of people that want jobs (the labor force) that do not have one. It doesn't take into account every single breathing Californian.

For example:

In 2000 (census), there were 33,871,648 breathing Californians. Of those, there were 15,829,202 breathing Californians in the civilian labor force (those that have or are seeking jobs). In 2000, 7.0% were unemployed, or 1,110,274 (of that 15,829,202). Hence, a 7.0% unemployment rate.

The unemployment rate doesn't take into account every single person, it excludes retirees, SAHM/D's, the disabled, children, and those that don't want or need to work.

While the unemployment rate in CA is indeed high, it doesn't mean a newcomer would be competing with 4.2 million people for jobs.

If we were to use the same civilian labor force percentage that existed in 2000 (46.7%), and your current population stat (36,756,666), along with the current unemployment rate (11.6%), that would mean 1,991,182 don't have jobs. That would be the more accurate number in place of your 4.2 million number above.

I hope I've been of some help.

Still you must admit that 2,000,000 breathing people without jobs is a considerable amount of competition! At least i hope most of them are breathing!

[Joe_Ryder]

Originally Posted by ellet87

Thanks for that, I'm sure there are jobs to be found out there. I am not one to give up.

I'm starting to like you already. You'll do fine.

Originally Posted by ellet87

Do you have any suggestions of a good area to live in?

For the weather you described it sounds like the LA area might be a good fit but if you've never been to a really large city, it'll be a bit of a shock.

I do know a guy who moved to LA from NZ and he ended up in San Francisco because he said LA was a bit too much. He then divorced his drop dead gorgeous sweetheart wife and hooked up with a far less attractive and difficult woman so I suspect his judgement might be questionable.

Just about any Realtor should be able to arrange a place to hang your hat while you look around to find the place you want to be. I'll send you a link to a good start via DM. I don't like posting links on the forum because they tend to be deleted by the moderators for legal reasons.

[Count David]

Originally Posted by Den Mathias

Still you must admit that 2,000,000 breathing people without jobs is a considerable amount of competition! At least i hope most of them are breathing!

Oh, definitely.

Even thought the ~ 2,000,000 are spread throughout the state, I wouldn't want to be one of the many jobless in CA right now. I count my blessings that I am not.

[nancy thereader]

Seems to me the original poster evinced a trace of rudeness with a sense of entitlement to a good job here (teaching), despite the hardship currently visited upon millions of unemployed ...

Absolutely. I thought the same thing.

[JerZ]

Originally Posted by ellet87

Thanks for that, I'm sure there are jobs to be found out there. I am not one to give up.

Not to be glib, but neither are the many, many, many people and families here with solid work histories and stellar degrees who are out of work. Hon, do you think unemployment is because people just don't feel like trying very hard? Go hungry for a few months or watch your children do so and you'll find that's probably not the case. Again, not being a snot. Just saying, if you're thinking you'll get a job where others, who are local and stable here and can prove it, can't, you may be in for a bit of a shock.

I mean you did ask whether it would be hard to find a job. When some people told you yes you argued the point. So obviously your mind is already made up sight unseen that you'll find a job. Why ask, then?

Good luck with whatever your decision is and I'm not trying to discourage you from coming, but think first.

[JerZ]

Originally Posted by David Aguilar

Oh, definitely.

Even thought the ~ 2,000,000 are spread throughout the state, I wouldn't want to be one of the many jobless in CA right now. I count my blessings that I am not.

Exactly. Me too.

[JerZ]

Originally Posted by Den Mathias

Still you must admit that 2,000,000 breathing people without jobs is a considerable amount of competition! At least i hope most of them are breathing!

Yup. Even if the numbers are "off," the exact number really doesn't matter. What if it's "effectively", only, say, 9%? That's a buttload of people. What matters is that, like it or not, it is harder right now, and right here, to get a job than perhaps in other places or during different economic times. Throw on top of that a person who's from out of the country, may or may not settle down here, but wants a job...Folks, think about this; employers have their pick right now. Go ahead, come into the U.S. and into California but please, not with blinders on. That just doesn't make good sense. Yes, there is absolutely competition right now. Big time, and in a huge variety of sectors.

ETA: Our schools are laying off like crazy too and this is a "moneyed" area. Not hyper-moneyed but definitely up there. They even just closed a school entirely in our town as an amputation to try to keep the school district from bleeding out entirely. It's a last-ditch effort and actually followed massive layoffs.

[Ashlae]

I think Orange Country is a great place to live. It's expensive but the job market is better than San Diego and if you have kids, then the schools are decent.