[Retiredcoach]

Florida has always been a place to be enjoyed best when you enter with money in your pockets. Those that have found (and are finding) the good jobs.... paying a livable wage, benefits, some job security... are/have been in the minority for many years. Part of that may be due to the fact that Florida is a right to work state, and the other part is that it has been built around a tourist economy. It is good to see that some have found some stability and developed a decent way of life within the Florida workforce, but the majority of working Florida citizens have struggled significantly more paying the bills. With the recession taking hold as strongly as it has nationally, there are signs that most of Florida is suffering even more, as the better paying jobs (especially related to construction and real estate development) may be forever gone and tourism may continue in a downward spiral.

The slumping Florida housing market offers hope to those who could not afford to buy a house earlier because of the overpriced market not matching the wages to afford it. Unfortunately, even with house prices falling further, most working Floridians are still not able to make enough to afford the costs associated with owning a home. This is compounded by the fact that rising unemployment is affecting all aspects of the Florida lifestyle. In other words, it may be awhile before a jobless individual, who moves to Florida and obtains a workable, sustained wage, can expect this as an attainable goal anytime soon.

[stars99]

Granny Sue nailed it. Are you by yourself? Don't come here with a family to support if you have no job lined up--that goes without saying. You could rent just a room, to save money. You might have to work at a job you don't like for awhile, or two jobs at the same time. Bring several months' reserve money so you don't go broke. If you don't have pie in the sky expectations, it can be done. However, since you don't give any information about what kind of career your looking for, it's hard to give you advice for your situation.

Originally Posted by Granny Sue

My story wouldn't probably work in today's economy but yes I did.

I moved to Orlando on March 5th 1984 and started working at the Hilton on West Colonial Drive on March 8th. I put up with a lot of garbage but came to work on time and did what they asked of me and more.
I was eventually moved to the night audit then promoted to the Bookkeeper position.
This set the course for the next 20 years.
I've lost three jobs due to downsizing...the 1st one included. I have now been with the local government for 16 years and doing well.

We didn't get all caught up with the real estate bubble so we're not living in an over priced house. We didn't listen to everyone saying that Rosemont and Pine Hills were total ghetto and have a nice home in a nice neighborhood with wonderful neighbors.

No matter what the naysayers tell you....it's bad ALL over, not just Florida.

[mango23]

Originally Posted by OrlandoRE_Miracle

Granny Sue nailed it. Are you by yourself? Don't come here with a family to support if you have no job lined up--that goes without saying. You could rent just a room, to save money. You might have to work at a job you don't like for awhile, or two jobs at the same time. Bring several months' reserve money so you don't go broke. If you don't have pie in the sky expectations, it can be done. However, since you don't give any information about what kind of career your looking for, it's hard to give you advice for your situation.

"Tomorrow is promised to no man". I think we have had a few good years and the current up coming generation doesn't get it.
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness".
There are no promises in that quote. Sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do. Sometimes things take longer then you hoped. Sometimes you even fail. The only real guarantee you have in this country is the opportunity to try. The bad economic times will pass as it always does. In the mean time you have to just do the best you can. There is such a thing as "Doing without, putting things off, prioritizing your life and making sacrifices.
As I read a lot of these posts it would seem like people are wanting some kind of guarantee's. They don't exist, not even in good times. I have been successful at a number of things in my life. Maybe the biggest asset I had was a sort of naiveness. I dare say if I knew how hard some things were to be I may never have started. Amazingly you some how seem to make it through.

[psouth]

Originally Posted by Retiredcoach

Florida has always been a place to be enjoyed best when you enter with money in your pockets. Those that have found (and are finding) the good jobs.... paying a livable wage, benefits, some job security... are/have been in the minority for many years. Part of that may be due to the fact that Florida is a right to work state, and the other part is that it has been built around a tourist economy. It is good to see that some have found some stability and developed a decent way of life within the Florida workforce, but the majority of working Florida citizens have struggled significantly more paying the bills. With the recession taking hold as strongly as it has nationally, there are signs that most of Florida is suffering even more, as the better paying jobs (especially related to construction and real estate development) may be forever gone and tourism may continue in a downward spiral.

The slumping Florida housing market offers hope to those who could not afford to buy a house earlier because of the overpriced market not matching the wages to afford it. Unfortunately, even with house prices falling further, most working Floridians are still not able to make enough to afford the costs associated with owning a home. This is compounded by the fact that rising unemployment is affecting all aspects of the Florida lifestyle. In other words, it may be awhile before a jobless individual, who moves to Florida and obtains a workable, sustained wage, can expect this as an attainable goal anytime soon.

People confuse the terms "right to work state" with "employment at will." Most if not all states are "employment at will" states which means employers are not obligated to keep you and you can quit at any time for any reason as well. "Right to work" has to do with union shops which hardly exist in Florida any way. In "right to work" states you do not have to join a labor union in a union shop to work there. You have the right to work there without being in the union. If there is no labor union then this term would not apply to anything.

[speter25]

HEY I would advise you to move during the spring or summer breaks to florida. That way alot of tourist are in and businesses are looking for quick dependable help for the season. During that time works your ass off if you know what I mean and be flexible could land a permanent position. But in the meanwhile of having a summer job it wouldnt hurt to be looking for another job. Worked for me!

[Retiredcoach]

Originally Posted by psouth

People confuse the terms "right to work state" with "employment at will." Most if not all states are "employment at will" states which means employers are not obligated to keep you and you can quit at any time for any reason as well. "Right to work" has to do with union shops which hardly exist in Florida any way. In "right to work" states you do not have to join a labor union in a union shop to work there. You have the right to work there without being in the union. If there is no labor union then this term would not apply to anything.

I am really not clear as to what you are talking about in your differentiations. It has little to do with my position is, however. In terms of a right to work state, statutes under provisions of the Taft-Hartley Act prohibit agreements between trade unions and employers making membership or payment of union dues or "contract negotiation fees" a condition of employment, either before or after hiring.

In Pennsylvania, a non-right to work state, if a workplace has a labor contract negotiated between the employer and the labor union, all workers are minimally required to pay a designated "fair share" amount whether a member of the union or not. How fair would it be for the union to negotiate a contract and those individuals who are "along for the ride" pay nothing? This represents a primary reason for the absence of effective labor unions in Florida, and a rationale for the miserably low wages, benefits and job security for too many of its working class.

[Forgetmenots& Roses]

Originally Posted by dnc19694339

Well, Has anyone moved to florida without a job and thrived? Somebody must have made it ??? Not looking for all the negative replies, I read those on here all the time.

I came to Alaska in 1998 and was put out into the street by the person who brought me here. Believe me, if I can survive 11 years as a single woman with health problems and alone, I believe you can handle Florida. LOL. But what about the hurricanes?