Looking for specifically-suited OR cities for possible relocation

[pdxMIKEpdx]

Coming from an engineering background, I have to agree with Larry.

Not all engineers build bridges, etc (Civil), or design aircraft or rockets, design complex electronics, etc......there are a TON of engineering fields and specialties that do not require a suit and a tie.

Sustaining (keeping things going), Millwrights (the guys that install machines in factories and keep sawmills going) are in high demand, because all the "GLORY" in engineering is design work, but not everybody is suited to it, but that mistakenly is perceived by many where all the money and notoriety (meant in a good sense) are.

Plenty of rural communities need good engineers that can keep things going and figure out new approaches to old problems.

The work (and the Pay) is there.
If you are smart enough to be a worthy engineer, the work will find you.

[Cloudy Dayz]

Originally Posted by Larry Caldwell

The point is that large cities are not the only place a manufacturing engineer can find work in Oregon. Manufacturing has always been the life blood of rural Oregon, and it still is.

The problem is those jobs are going to go to locals first. Oregon Universities are pumping out more then enough manufacturing engineers.

I hope the OPs husband is successful in finding a job here. But I think their best bet will be in the Portland Metro, not in a small town, where the jobs are minimal, and the few job openings will likly go to locals.

[pdxMIKEpdx]

Oregon Universities are pumping out more then enough manufacturing engineers.

See, the above statement is a problem.
I used to participate in selecting young engineers for OSU's MECOP program.
While there are a lot of brilliant kids at OSU, not every graduate is going to stay in Oregon.
In fact, just about all the young men and ladies I had the pleasure of working with were more than focused on their careers, and really didn't give staying in Oregon more than a passing thought if it meant opportunity, and many were not even from Oregon to begin with.
Engineers are not cookie cutter type people, their are billions of specialties, disciplines and focuses, tons of opportunities for a well educated engineer of any type.

BTW, I think using the word "Pumping" is a bit of an exaggeration.
Earning a degree in "Engineering" from a place like OSU is not a walk in the park.