How difficult is the job market in LA (Los Angeles: foreclosure, house)

[chariega]

I see many people posting that it is rather difficult, but is it difficult because a lack of skills or is it REALLY difficult for EVERYONE regardless of skill level. I know people on the news complain because there are no jobs, but in LA is it because of skills or the absence of employment for even skilled, educated workers, etc.??

I don't mean to offend anyone, but I know in DC the job market is tough but not impossible if you went to college and have at least 7 years experience.

[1200RT]

I don't really understand the question .....

Obviously, the higher skilled the applicant, the easier it is to find a job.

With that being said, there are a LOT of highly skilled people looking for work in LA.

[obscure reference]

It's tough. Really, really tough. Depending on which estimate you believe, an average of 4 to 8 qualified people apply for each job in L.A. I'm educated, qualified, flexible, versed in several industries, award winning, great interview (so I or whoever's repping me are told by everyone who interviews me), yadda yadda... and I haven't had a full-time job since very early 2008. I know many other people in the same situation. We're all sick of hearing, "I can't believe no one's hired you yet!" Yeah... neither can we.

I'm able to piece together a decent living from several freelance gigs, but if I had any dependents, we'd be screwed.

This isn't just happening in L.A. The whole state's like this. Several other states are, too.

I'm not kvetching too much, since I've actively chosen to stay here. If getting a full-time job and owning a house were my top priorities in life, I would have moved away a long time ago. On the whole, it's more important to me to have flexibility and to be near my family (albeit well across town from them!).

But, yes. It's really that difficult.

[bhcompy]

Even for the educated it's tough. Do you want to make entry level money at low level position for senior level skill requirements? Do you meet the absurd education, experience, and credential requirements for positions that you qualify for based on your actual skill and experience? That is essentially most of the job market in a nutshell. It's like companies don't want to hire people, they just want to advertise that they are hiring(is there a tax incentive for that?).

I spent 9 months searching for a job and completely know how difficult it is to find one. In the final six months of last year, I received 2 interviews, and both were for remote jobs based out of state. This year improved, and I received 4 interviews in the span of the first 3 months of the year, but as the summer has wound down the hiring has gone down. I made it to the final interview every time, and either lost out to other candidates who took less or had more education/experience or turned down the position because a 30% wage cut over the local average was ridiculous. Also, the state lost 10000 jobs last month after gaining for a few months.

[marilyn220]

Permanent positions are extremely difficult and it gets worse the longer your out of work.

Temp work isn't plentiful either.

Yes, I'm skilled and educated.

My suggestion to the OP is to find a job with a company that has an office or branch in Los Angeles, then transfer over. LA is very, very, very, very WHO YOU KNOW.

[SoCal35]

Originally Posted by chariega

I see many people posting that it is rather difficult, but is it difficult because a lack of skills or is it REALLY difficult for EVERYONE regardless of skill level. I know people on the news complain because there are no jobs, but in LA is it because of skills or the absence of employment for even skilled, educated workers, etc.??

I don't mean to offend anyone, but I know in DC the job market is tough but not impossible if you went to college and have at least 7 years experience.

It would be helpful to know what industry or sector you currently work in or plan on working in? While everything is pretty bad all over...some are worse than others and some are brighter than others.

[laviachi]

The market is really bad here regardless of background. There are few openings for the large group of unemployed -- skilled or unskilled. If anything, I know more job seekers contemplating relocation out of of Los Angeles. The state is heavily in debt and businesses are looking to relocate. It probably will not be until 2012 that the state starts turning around albeit very slowly.

[Jonah K]

If you're a bankruptcy lawyer, foreclosure specialist, collections agent, etc. it might be somewhat easier to find a job in L.A. However, for most occupations, the job market is pretty bleak. Here's a link to a Los Angeles Times article that paints a fairly dire picture for the currently unemployed...
For many idled workers, jobs aren't coming back - latimes.com

[RCCCB]

Originally Posted by chariega

I see many people posting that it is rather difficult, but is it difficult because a lack of skills or is it REALLY difficult for EVERYONE regardless of skill level. I know people on the news complain because there are no jobs, but in LA is it because of skills or the absence of employment for even skilled, educated workers, etc.??

I don't mean to offend anyone, but I know in DC the job market is tough but not impossible if you went to college and have at least 7 years experience.

Keep in mind though that DC is basically mostly government connected jobs which are like welfare. They are way overpaid, benefits you don't find in the real world. Then the unions pay politicians to vote them raises in exchange for many millions of donations from the unions.

DC was a horrible example.


I think we are seeing the wage for skilled workers going down.
Many have the extended unemployment (welfare) and many aren't killing themselves to find work IMO.
Some only want to work at their old wage (which may never happen again).
Some expect the work to move to them instead of people following the work.
2011 has the highest tax increases up and down the board for tax payers of all levels. So, THIS was the boom year.

You think this is bad, just wait.
How's that Hope and Change deal working for you?

[Jnet57]

Originally Posted by RCCCB

Keep in mind though that DC is basically mostly government connected jobs which are like welfare. They are way overpaid, benefits you don't find in the real world. Then the unions pay politicians to vote them raises in exchange for many millions of donations from the unions.

DC was a horrible example.


I think we are seeing the wage for skilled workers going down.
Many have the extended unemployment (welfare) and many aren't killing themselves to find work IMO.
Some only want to work at their old wage (which may never happen again).
Some expect the work to move to them instead of people following the work.
2011 has the highest tax increases up and down the board for tax payers of all levels. So, THIS was the boom year.

You think this is bad, just wait.
How's that Hope and Change deal working for you?

This article sheds light on the employment picture, perhaps, forecast:

Future hiring will mainly benefit the high-skilled - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100905/ap_on_bi_ge/us_employment_future_jobs - broken link)