Phoenix jobs market looking hopeful

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

It's true. We were hiring an office manager for our practice which employs about 200 people. We had people apply with an MBA from University of Phoenix with no relevant experience or really any experience at all for that matter. I'm sure those people think the market stinks when in reality they didn't qualify for the job.



I agree with both of you. People want to celebrate the creation of jobs without examining the types of jobs created. Yes, it's nice that jobs are created but with regard to the real estate market, it matters with regard to the type of jobs because low income jobs are not going to enable one to purchase a home. Those low wage retail, service industry and call center jobs aren't going to lead to a spike in home buying. The reality is people can't afford to buy homes on those low incomes and just arbitrarily celebrating job growth without examining the types of jobs created is asinine. Let's Break Out the Champagne, El Pollo Loco is hiring 5 minimum wage workers, uh oh watch out housing industry!

Yes, I would certainly advise you to look past the headline. If you had, you would have found that AZ job growth last month occurred in all sectors and was led by education (back to school), health care, and transportation. Manufacturing continued it's relatively strong performance as well. I did not see "call centers" in the list.

AZ has been near the top of the nation in job creation now since December. We also have one of the hottest real estate markets with the fastest consumption of inventory. The glass half empty crowd crows "but the houses are cheap foreclosures and the jobs are all call center". Well OK, but most places don't even have that.

Another interesting point from the jobs data: AZ has the second highest growth in the number of health care providers this year after Louisiana. Those are better paying jobs, no?

[Jazzjazz07]

The problem is just because you have a degree does not make you qualified for the position. I know plenty of people with degree's that are dumb as heck and would not last a week at certain positions. But companies over look people without degree's just to hire people with degrees and made the worse mistake of their life just because that person had that piece of paper.

[jzcrandall]

I got my MBA through UOP. I'm now working as a Special Ed teacher; in fact, I took the class required for a provisional license at UOP as well. On the bright side that degree is sufficient enough for me to get the bump in pay for the Master's.

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Yes, I would certainly advise you to look past the headline. If you had, you would have found that AZ job growth last month occurred in all sectors and was led by education (back to school), health care, and transportation. Manufacturing continued it's relatively strong performance as well. I did not see "call centers" in the list.

AZ has been near the top of the nation in job creation now since December. We also have one of the hottest real estate markets with the fastest consumption of inventory. The glass half empty crowd crows "but the houses are cheap foreclosures and the jobs are all call center". Well OK, but most places don't even have that.

Another interesting point from the jobs data: AZ has the second highest growth in the number of health care providers this year after Louisiana. Those are better paying jobs, no?

Do you have any links to these "reports" because I never read anything that specifically provided any details on average salary of these jobs and the types of jobs that were created. Again, your retort would have been more relevant if you had something substantial to back it up with like a URL. I'm in health care and speaking with regard to health care, most of those jobs you are referring to are low level like medical assistants and techs. Again, I would love to be proven wrong on this so provide some articles that detail specifically

(1) the specific types of jobs being created, just saying "healthcare" is meaningless
(2) average salary and pay of these jobs being created. Again just saying "Jobs" doesn't really tell you anything since it can mean a call center job or a whie collar executive level job

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

I'm in health care and speaking with regard to health care, most of those jobs you are referring to are low level like medical assistants and techs. Again, I would love to be proven wrong on this so provide some articles that detail specifically

(1) the specific types of jobs being created, just saying "healthcare" is meaningless
...b

I think Ponderosa was explaining that most healthcare job pay more than your example of " El Pollo Loco workers" @ minimum wage. So assuming that medical assistants are on the bottom of the food chain, those jobs pay around $17-40K a year. See Medical Assistant Salary - Average Salary Medical Assistant - PayScale

If one of those newly created jobs were medical tech, their wages are 30% higher. If you have a husband and wife together making $50K-$60K a year on their 1st job, they can easily afford an average Phoenix home. But we are now assuming the worse case (new hire with no experience).

Please note: I am not saying this new couple will buy your home in Chandler that might be still decreasing in value.

But the reality is Phoenix is hiring more people than most other states. I'm not sure why you automatically assume the worse(all of the jobs are low paying restaurant jobs).

[JLee50]

I was pleasantly surprised a couple of weeks ago - I am moving to Mesa in October, and drove one of my cars out not too long ago. Less than 24 hours after being in Phoenix, I had a conditional offer from G4S Secure Solutions. The pay isn't quite what I'd like, but I'm also taking a step down career-wise for a better future opportunity elsewhere (and to get out of New England!) so I can't really be surprised.

There are hundreds of open positions in Arizona for Chase Bank alone - it makes me curious what the demographics of the unemployed population are (i.e. felony record making some jobs difficult or impossible to obtain, etc).

[barstowgirl]

I've been here a year. My job situation is ok if not kinda scary at the momment. I have over 14 years of professional web development experience, I get interviews, about every 6 resumes a send out i might hear back on 1 - 2. I interview over the phone and in person. I dont ever get an offer or a 2nd call back. I dont know what the problem is. I started to get self conscious thinking it was my height (6' woman), my last name (jewish), my accent? I just dont know.

I do know that i am highly skilled, and i am currently freelancing until i get a good paying perm job. I get hired from all over the world for people with little jobs, banner creation, facebook fan page design, ebay stuff and so on. These people have never met me, as they are all in other states / countries yet they still hire me. Im not always the lowest bid. Most of them come to me as they have seen my work before elsewhere and want me to do something similar. My biggest problem is the work i get is not stable. Im never gauranteed anything, so i need a full time decent paying job.

What i see alot of here lately is low wages for what i do $12 - $18 an hour. I used to make 65k a year in '08 and the job previous to that was 45k in '07 and in '05 it was 39k. I am realistic and understand that i will probably not be seeing 65k ever again. I realize that. It was nice while it lasted.

When i do go to interview every single one of them except for maybe 2 the interviewers were young and in shorts and flip flops. I always wear a full pant suit to an interview. Most if not all of the employees are in their mid to late 20's. Im thinking im not getting hired based on the fact that im in my mid - late 30's or i have to much experience. What can i do about that?? Nothing..

About a month ago i accepted a temp job which was supposed to be 2 weeks long. Im here still and its been 5 weeks. Dont get my wrong im not complaining. I am thankful that i have it. Its not doing exactly what i do on a day in/day out basis. But it is in the ball park. I get 18 an hour as a temp. Im am still in the hunt for that job once again. As this job will end one day. The company i am temping for has brought the idea that i may be hired for a job that doesnt exist yet. I dont know if it will happen or not. Only time will tell.

Sorry for such a long rant. I just wanted to throw my 2 cents in as a former web developer who made really good money and now is just temping to pay the bills.

[kytoaz]

I am a vascular tech and a cat scan tech and hope to move to phoenix soon. I will tell you this, I see more medical imaging jobs in phoenix than any other city i've looked at by far. while Imaging "techs" aren't exactly getting rich, most of these jobs pay between 50-75 k a year. I've looked in texas, new mexico, california, colorado and several other big city locales around the west and not one of them has near the amount of postings that phoenix consistantly does. hope to make one of them mine very soon!

[mjd2k]

Originally Posted by hughesbb

The problem is just because you have a degree does not make you qualified for the position. I know plenty of people with degree's that are dumb as heck and would not last a week at certain positions. But companies over look people without degree's just to hire people with degrees and made the worse mistake of their life just because that person had that piece of paper.

Sometimes true but most times not. I worked with degree, mba and doctorates before I "retired". Some were pure academics that could not fathom the concept that work meant you needed to PRODUCE. Most were you and me people but they had the paper. Once you start working together, things shake out and everyone realizes that circumstances, not abilty, lead to wall paper or no wall paper. Seldom, if ever had an issue.

[esnox82]

Anyone can achieve a four year degree from a university it's not difficult -- nor is it really a commitment; I did it while working 40+ hours a week ... It's not about if, or, how, or when you graduate. There will always be a difference between those who can understand the difference between having "multiple degrees" and "multiple degree's".

So when you come to a major metropolitan area you need to bring your best game and be ready to compete. Jobs are available, but you must fight for what you think you deserve.