I know that some like to remain optimistic in the face of an impending depression...but personally, I think we're too far gone.

Here are some State Unemployment Rates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Everyone go to Wyoming!

Michigan has what can only be described as an impressive lead, 1.2% ahead of the pack.

This thread was inspired by a trip over to Google News, with one story being about North Carolina crumbling.
I have a trip to NC planned in April.

Feel free to remain optimistic and tell me that it's not as bad as the media makes it sound.
I just wanted to rant.

Fun with charts + Michigan.

I just got laid off last week, and I'm looking for a job in the District. I suddenly don't have such a good feeling about that after seeing the chart.

Still employed at this very second, but I could be gone as soon as this Friday and probably don't have more then 2 weeks left here..... I'm not even gonna click any of those links. I see enough headlines to scare the bajesus out of me.

For you it's probably best you don't know the rate where you are.

Well until I finally finish school, I'm just in the Customer Service field and there are TONS of corporate offices that can and eventually will accommodate me. I'm actually not too worried. I'm just glad like no other that I moved out of Michigan about 3 years ago... Not saying I can find a job tomorrow, but even with the housing market, there is still A LOT of Metro-Atlanta being built up. Then again, I might just be saying this to comfort myself

I had a job for one day and quit. I have never had a job since I hate this economy.

I have been out of work for nearly a year now....i really dont know how i havent lost my mind yet. Maybe its because i do live in Michigan. I was let go by one of the "BIG 3"....i am enrolled in a program that pays for 2 years of college, so that is a plus, but dealing with the UIA offices and MICHWORKS people is soooo frustrating. It takes literally 2 weeks to even get a call back or email response from these people. They say in order to keep collecting benefits from this program i have to enrolled in school, which i have been trying to do now for 3 MONTHS!!

I am degreed in AutoCad(which is pointless now that nobody uses that program anymore), and Mechanical Engineering....but i dont have the "Work Experiance" needed to get a job. The feild i am educated in is so flooded with unemployed Engineers/designers with so much more experiance than me...Im lost here in Michigan. Thankfully i have been able to do some odd job construction work to get some cash, as well as collect fantasy winnings. My brother just got offered a job in Pittsburg...i might tag along and start over there.

gotta pass em drug tests

Did it turn out you were too small?

Makes me very nervous

Esp since ill be done with school end of this month....

Yeah, the service through the UIA here is awful.
I got 2 computer certifications through NWLB, after jumping through a large assortment of hoops to get enrolled...hopefully they'll eventually help me get a job elsewhere. heh

Hate to bring up bad memories but is anyone doing better since the economic tumble. Does job market seem to be doing better in your area. I looked at state recently and Unemployment rates weren't any better. My seasonal job has just about come to an end and I started browsing for jobs again and man, it is going to be hard. Anyone know any hot spots to move? Basically just curious how everyone else is doing from different parts of the US.

I hear Houston is booming - they have the second most Fortune 500 HQs in the country.

I created a comparison index that compares cost of living with unemployment (higher of each being negative factors).

The Top 5 States are:

1) South Dakota
2) North Dakota
3) Nebraska
4) Wyoming
5) Utah

Naturally with the exception of Jackson Hole area in Wyoming and maybe Salt Lake City, there's not a lot of desire or demand to live in these states.

The Bottom 5 are:

1) California
2) Rhode Island
3) D.C.
4) Michigan
5) Oregon

California, RI and DC were all astronomically high and then it tapered strongly to the other two.

The Six Most Moderate (aka the three on either side of the median) are (best COLA/Unemployment levels to lowest):

1) Alabama
2) Delaware
3) Colorado
4) Missouri
5) Tennessee
6) Pennsylvania

Much better states here as far as culture and livability imho (save Alabama and Delaware). Tennessee and Colorado stand out as hot growth states from what I've heard.

I can forward on my XLS comparison - i was gonna post it on googledocs but they haven't worked the kinks out of their charting yet. PM me if you care.

PM sent. Thanks for the info...Colorado interested me before when I was looking to get into the Tech field in the first place as it was highly acclaimed as a largely growing area and someplace I could see myself living.

Well, Ray got hired on in a management position.
But then he got fired for saying "Shut the f*ck up!" to the CEO in the executive bathroom.

Do a search for banking and tech jobs in the Pittsburgh area.
Theres always a need for .... dare I say.... truck drivers, ughh!!!

If you get on Career Link look up EQS (ellwood quality steels), probably under laborer section, we're slow but when things turn around in a (few) we should be hiring.
If anyone seriously tries then PM me if you have any luck and I'll see if i can get anymore info for ya.
60 to 85k after one year...

Yay for my home state of Rhode Island lol.

Holy s---...I hope your serious. Texting Ray now for complete story. lol.

Hmm...I browse the Pittsburgh area via internet. I am trying to stay in my field but Pittsburgh definitely seems like an area I might enjoy. The reason why I am asking about different locations in the US is I am in the position right now in life where I can pick up and move anywhere I want and that positioning in life doesn't happen very often for many people.

NYC probably has a plethera of opportunities available in your field. You'll just have to deal with incredibly high taxes amongst other things. Of course to minimize the costs slightly, you can live in Jersey, but you'll be living in Jersey. lol

I have absolutely no interest in either states at all to be honest. As far as big cities is concerned, I like Chicago more than any of the one's I have visited. Would love to visit the Northwest though. I heard Portland was blowing up before the economic crisis hit. If I were to move Northeast, the only city that interested me was Boston but I might get booed out of there not being a RedSox, Patriots, Bruins, or Celtics fan as those fans over their are pretty diehard.

I am sure I would be able to squeeze a good job pretty much anywhere metropolis once I have my degree and certs, but even Chicago seems so barren right now. I just like the idea of moving somewhere completely new ever so often to add some new interests into life.

Sounds like the exact match you're looking for is Atlanta, will fill you in with more details later when I havecmore time and a comp.

It's funny that Washington DC is on that list, from everyone I've talked to the city has been more busy this summer than past summers. (people not familiar with Washington DC, summer is the dead season...Winter is the busy season)

It is very very expensive city to live in, but I see growth here.

As long as you don't openly root for the Yankees, Colts, Canadians or Lakers, you won't be obscenely harrased here.

Yeah, but if my Chicago teams ever decide to start winning I am sure your fan base will easily switch to hating them. Then again, I have something in common because I hate the Colts, Yankees, and Lakers also.

I drove through ATL once, and made sure to drive around it the next time. I don't really see ATL being the place for me...It's too "South" no offense to southerners, it's just I am a "North" kind of guy. I like the climate changes and can understand the way people talk up here.