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So I notice that a lot of people on this board talk about a lack of good jobs in this region. These jobs will pay 41k on average, which isn't too bad. But the thing that strikes me more about the article is that the county's unemployment rate is at 8%. While that's not good, it's better than the national average. So I'm guessing the complaints here are as much about the type as job as it is their scarcity, right? Is it hard to find a $10/hr job? Or just hard to find anything better than that. Is it the location of the jobs, i.e. just in Asheville proper, not in any outlying areas? I notice people talk about service-sector jobs. What are your takes on retail? Is retail in the dumps there?
Lots of questions, I know. I appreciate any feedback. Thanks.
Last edited by Green Irish Eyes; 09-09-2011 at 09:47 AM..
Reason: Split off from another thread
So I notice that a lot of people on this board talk about a lack of good jobs in this region. These jobs will pay 41k on average, which isn't too bad. But the thing that strikes me more about the article is that the county's unemployment rate is at 8%. While that's not good, it's better than the national average. So I'm guessing the complaints here are as much about the type as job as it is their scarcity, right? Is it hard to find a $10/hr job? Or just hard to find anything better than that. Is it the location of the jobs, i.e. just in Asheville proper, not in any outlying areas? I notice people talk about service-sector jobs. What are your takes on retail? Is retail in the dumps there?
Lots of questions, I know. I appreciate any feedback. Thanks.
The article states $41K "on average"; and those jobs are production line jobs as I read it. The minimum wage jobs prevail in western NC. And the job market is in the tank, the housing market just took another 10% hit in western NC "on average". Retail jobs are in the tank.
Never relocate anywhere without a job to come to unless you can support yourself out of pocket for a minimum of one year. One interesting fact about western NC is rental housing. It will cost you more to rent in the area than you would normally expect. If you have a job and can afford to own a home, that is the way to go in the current market. Nice apartment complexes around the Asheville, Hendersonville, Arden, Fletcher area will be in the $1000/mo. to $1200/mo. range. About the same for single family rental homes, but you will pay utilities for a sfh.
What I am hoping for is to hear from somebody who has looked for a job recently, even a $10/hr job. Actually, especially a $10/hr job. I don't really need life/relocation/housing advice.
I got laid off during the whole "financial crisis" and supposedly the job market sucked here then too (over 10% unemployment). Yet, I was able to find more than one job really quickly. The problem was they were low paying, and stuff that many Americans apparently aren't willing to do (i.e labor). I took one of them until I could manage to get something better.
Is there anyone on here who is actually now looking for work in the Asheville area, or has recently looked for work? What has your experience been? Can someone in their twenties/early thirties with a strong back and willingness to take almost any opportunity find something? (not me, btw)
1. The national job market in general sucks, of course.
2. Despite the statistics, it is worse here, for several reasons:
a. The economy is largely driven by tourism, which means low-paying seasonal jobs.
b. Lots of people want to live here and are willing to work for less in order to do so, which means the supply/demand equation in this area is out of whack (too much demand, not enough supply). As a result, employers have the upper hand and will use that to their advantage.
c. It's especially difficult for "outsiders" to gain employment, especially if you're from the North. Preference will almost always be given to locals, regardless of your qualifications, and your odds of employment largely depend on "who you know".
I-40 is littered with superb, well-qualified individuals who didn't know the right people.
Also be aware that the 8%, if that is current, only counts those people living in the county who are looking for work. It does not count the hundreds of applications coming in from out of the area and out of state, since Asheville has become one of those "lemming" cities where everybody wants to move to these days. So in addition to competing with the 8% unemployed, you'd be competing with out-of-state applicants in a much higher number than in most places.
Like all unemployment numbers the government(s) publish, it also does not include underemployed (particularly those who accepted part-time employment because they could not find full-time employment) and those who have given up. Nationally, I have seen numbers that more than double the published unemployment rate when those things are factored in. Statistically, it is probably similar here.
Taking government numbers on unemployment, inflation, consumer price index, etc. as gospel is risky, at best. The list of things that get parsed out and why is "impressive."
Like all unemployment numbers the government(s) publish, it also does not include underemployed (particularly those who accepted part-time employment because they could not find full-time employment) and those who have given up. Nationally, I have seen numbers that more than double the published unemployment rate when those things are factored in. Statistically, it is probably similar here.
Taking government numbers on unemployment, inflation, consumer price index, etc. as gospel is risky, at best. The list of things that get parsed out and why is "impressive."
I agree with TheMule...I really suspect the 'non-employed, but would like to be employed' numbers are ~double what the appointed bureaucrats are telling us. I would not want to be seeking a job these days, here in western NC or, back in NY.
GL, mD
well I recently heard the new cook out burger place had something like 400 applications for their opening......safe to assume may 10% of those actually getting hired make $10/hr
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