Where area/region do you live in and how's the job market there?

[lizziegrace]

I'm trying to decide where to focus my job searches. I'm an accountant with 25 years experience as a generalist and fund accountant (universities). I don't want to waste my time looking at cities where the economy is tanking like it is here in Columbus. And since Columbus just started to slide badly, it will be several years before it turns around, if ever.


Edited to add - I was laid off on Friday at 4pm. Made for a terrific weekend. x(

[TZ]

1. DC area

With all the Fed. Govt its kind of recession proof. Also lots of biotech here --many small startups are looking for good support staff...

[madinmaryland]

13. DC area...

Also lots of high tech/defense related industries. Unfortunately it looks like that will be a strong market for years to come. :(

[TZ]

36. Some of it isn't all bad

One of my friends (lizerdbits) gets quite a bit of work from biodefense contracts. I think thats an important industry, IMHO.

[Burma Jones]

2. DC Area

Lots of work.....

Defense and Homeland Security are growth industries....

[Tyler Durden]

3. Mid Michigan, the Job Asshole of the Country.

My friend "T" just lost his job in I.T. on Friday: a "cost save" by the idiot who runs the plant.

Thank the deity we work for a Caterpillar supplier. They'll always build heavy machinery, no matter what the economy does.

[lizziegrace]

4. I've heard to stay away from Michigan

unless it's with one of the universities.

Sorry for your friend. He was getting the boot the same time I did. 4pm on Friday. Our tiny division of 4 people had 3 laid off and I was one of them.

[1gobluedem]

5. But we WANT you to come to Michigan

I know we can find you a job in Ann Arbor. :hi:

[lizziegrace]

9. Ann Arbor is one of those

recession-resistant places with U of M there. I'll add that to my list.

:hi:

[Giant Robot]

27. I still want you to find me a job!

I want to move back to A2!

[Chan790]

6. Central CT, mixed bag.

Not good for me. (Development...but then again, no place is a great place to be in fundraising except NYC or DC.)

Accountancy or any sort of business/financial background is always hiring here due to the insurance companies and satellite HQs of mid and major banks and investment companies. It's also one of the more expensive places to live in the US (higher than average housing, gas and energy costs, marginally higher than average incomes, some of the highest state and local taxes in US.)

New Haven area might be better than here (Hartford and western suburbs). East of the CT River is...not as good.

[RebelOne]

7. Atlanta metro area.

I'm not sure about the job market. I'm working, so that's all that matters. But now after the tornadoes that hit us, I'm sure there will be plenty of jobs in construction.

[LynneSin]

8. Come to Wilmington

We're doing fine here and the real estate taxes are reasonable.

[lizziegrace]

10. I'll search that area too

:)

I'll be renting...

[madinmaryland]

14. DuPont, pharmaceuticals, and credit cards.

Recession proof industries are those!

[TZ]

37. not all pharmas

I know a pharma in Wilmington that just laid off a whole bunch of people...:-(

[madinmaryland]

39. I don't know.

When I was in Wilmington a couple of weeks ago, I eveything there was DuPont related.

:shrug:

[flvegan]

11. CNN gave the Tampa Bay area a very high ranking last year.

Dunno about the CPA market. The housing market sucks, I can tell you that. Well, unless you're a foreclosure attorney.

On edit, link to CNN:

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/biz2/0704/gallery.jobs_markets.biz2/7.html

[lizziegrace]

12. Thanks!

I'm not in the housing market (have to rent) and it's that way all over, I think.

I'll check out the link.

:hug:

[Swede]

15. Saskatchewan. Economy is white hot.

You can't buy a house for under $300,000. Retailers and restaurants cannot keep staff,even with a $8.15/hr minimum wage law. "Now Hiring" signs are everywhere.

[Dora]

16. Sorry about your layoff. Austin, TX isn't in bad shape.

And we have several colleges and universities in the area. I work at UT Austin - and it seems to me that they're always hiring accounting-type people.

[lizziegrace]

18. I'll check the UT Austin website

I've done departmental accounting and contracts/grants. And HR and, and, and...

(Worked at Ohio State for 10 years.)

Thanks!

[Dora]

22. Other schools in the area...

St. Edwards University
Concordia University
Huston-Tillotson University
Texas State University (in San Marcos)
Austin Community College has several campuses in Austin

Also, because Austin is the state capitol, we have a lot of state offices, lobbyists, and non-profit organizations in town.

Luck be yours, and if you have any questions about Austin, PM me, or post them in the Texas forum!

[lizziegrace]

24. That's very kind of you

thank you. :hug:

I'll look around and PM you in a few days.

[LanternWaste]

17. Texas-- D/FW area Good Job Market

Job market's better here than most other parts of the country. I've read that conventional wisdom dictates that north Texas will do better during a recession that most other parts of the country.

I can't see an experienced CPA *not* getting a job here.


On edit-- damn: Good luck!

[lizziegrace]

20. Not a CPA

but lots of experience. I lived in Farmer's Branch when I was in Jr High a long, long time ago.

[LanternWaste]

30. Shows how much I know about the trades outside of my own industry...

"Not a CPA"

Shows how much I know about the trades outside of my own industry... :)

[BOSSHOG]

19. Thanks to Katrina

New Orleans is somewhat booming. And attendance is way up at the local universities. Many kids came down here to help out along the coast and decided to stay. Tulane, Loyola, UNO, LSU, Xavier, etc. Might be worth your while to check them out. Plenty of service jobs in the quarter as the restaurant business has come back strong.

[XNASA]

21. Florida, the Mid-Atlantic and Arizona are the where the most jobs are.

However, jobs pay relatively little in places like that.

The city that historically has plenty of well-paying jobs and a very competitive cost of living is of course.....Chicago. It is, after all, "The City that Works".

[lizziegrace]

23. I'm leaning toward Chicago

Lelapin will most likely end up there when she finishes college and I have some friends in Champaign-Urbana and Wisconsin.

[XNASA]

25. I'll be honest, this past Winter has been depressing.

Hardly any sunshine since December.

That's the biggest downside. But it's no secret.

[lizziegrace]

26. Same here in Columbus

it's gray from November - March at least. I should really get a light box...

[grace0418]

38. Chicago is holding it's own at the moment. Of course, the weather has been craptacular

but if you're in Columbus then you know how it is. My husband works for Northwestern U and loves it. Universities are usually good bets anyway. Just don't apply at Motorola. They're in trouble, my b-i-l has worked there for 20 years and is now feverishly searching for a new job, as are all his coworkers.

Sorry about getting laid off. That sucks.

[From The Ashes]

28. San Antonio.

has a booming job market. We also have a branch of the University of Texas (UTSA). And best of all, awesome winter weather!

[Ikonoklast]

29. NE Ohio...at least we're not Michigan

NAFTA has decimated manufacturing, housing is trying to find the bottom.

Thanks, Bill. You carried the Republicans water for them.

[bif]

31. Detroit. Suck big time!

[Tektonik]

32. San Diego, CA

Even with all the money that's being poured into the booming areas such as University City & La Jolla, the job market should be much better than it is currently. I work retail with a couple of people who left their jobs (PR firms and some others) to work retail as a temp job, but months later they've found nada.

The surge of building has seemed to slow down here as well. The past five years many office and apartment towers were constructed in zip codes 92037 & 92122, but I haven't seen similar large projects started again yet. Essentially what's been happening is that financial firms have been extending La Jolla all the way to the city of Miramar/Mira Mesa and building & occupying towers in the void between La Jolla & Mira Mesa, but it seems to have stopped for now. There was also supposed to have been a trolley line brought up here from downtown, but I haven't heard anything recently about that.

At my job I still see people spending lots and lots of money (I think our store is going to have a very good year compared to last if the trends continue).

[Mountainman]

33. I am an accountant and I just got my best job ever I think. I work for the County of Santa Barbara.

The pay is great, the benefits are great, paid health care, lots of holidays and vacations, a pension plan and great weather and the beaches. Problem is that all governments are hurting for revenue as the economy tanks and home prices are falling.

[NewWaveChick1981]

34. Central NC.

That really sucks, lizziegrace. :hug: :hug: :pals: I'm so sorry. :hug:

The job market here is good in some industries and sucky in others. Around here, you might be able to find a good accounting job. Check the major universities in the central NC area (UNCG, UNC-CH, NC State, Duke, Wake Forest, etc.). They always need good fund accountants----I know from personal experience. :P

[Forkboy]

35. North Central Mass....lousy.