# Unemployment - boo hoo, you can't live at your first choice. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 9, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-boo-hoo-you-cant-live-at-your-first-choice/588428 "2011-07-09T17:50:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-boo-hoo-you-cant-live-at-your-first-choice/588428/1 "2011-07-09T17:50:41Z")
It drives me nuts sometimes when people rant about unemployment. [Check out the stats.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_by_unemployment_rate) No, the entire US is not falling to pieces. Suck it up, buttercup, and realize you may not be able to live your dreams in New York, San Fran or Orlando. The job market is booming in the Northern states. Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska. No, you can’t have 1000000 art galleries or folk festivals every weekend, but it’s far from being the barren third world country most people would say it is. I’m not talking about people who are unemployed for a year before getting back on their feet. I’m talking about the people who go through a string of temp jobs for years, or are seriously about to lose their health care or go bankrupt. I work in tech, which is traditionally a laughingstock market here. Companies here will contract out to other provinces instead of looking internally. But because of the construction, oil and resources booms this industry is becoming viable. All industries are growing here because of the boom. I put this in the Pit for the inevitable replies, not for the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-boo-hoo-you-cant-live-at-your-first-choice/588428/2 "2011-07-09T17:53:02Z")
People who have lost their jobs really should have more consideration for your feelings. Selfish bastards. ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-boo-hoo-you-cant-live-at-your-first-choice/588428/3 "2011-07-09T18:00:03Z")
Do you expect people who have been gainfully employed for years in a major city to just up and move to Wyoming? ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-boo-hoo-you-cant-live-at-your-first-choice/588428/4 "2011-07-09T18:03:54Z")
I’m not sure that forced-relocation to Nebraska is feasible for each and every person collecting unemployment in ‘New York, San Fran, or Orlando’. But it would be one hell of an incentive to get out and pound the pavement for any job they could find if it becomes law. If these people also complain about ‘illegal’ immigrants taking jobs away and they have honestly turned down or avoided even reasonable offers for immediate work then I will join in pitting them. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-boo-hoo-you-cant-live-at-your-first-choice/588428/5 "2011-07-09T18:34:15Z")
> [@markdash](#): > > Do you expect people who have been gainfully employed for years in a major city to just up and move to Wyoming? Especially those with families. I understand you can move for work. Fuck, I moved _country_ for work. Just unless you are young and single it isn’t actually that easy. It is also a huge risk. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-boo-hoo-you-cant-live-at-your-first-choice/588428/6 "2011-07-09T18:44:00Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > It is also a huge risk. And expensive. ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-boo-hoo-you-cant-live-at-your-first-choice/588428/7 "2011-07-09T18:47:45Z")
> [@markdash](#): > > Do you expect people who have been gainfully employed for years in a major city to just up and move to Wyoming? It’s not unreasonable… While I admit my post is not data, I moved my family of five, in one week’s time, from New York to Denver, CO for work after having been unemployed for 9 months. 7 years later, I’m still in Denver and still employed.. in the tech industry. You do what you have to do to support your family. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-boo-hoo-you-cant-live-at-your-first-choice/588428/8 "2011-07-09T18:48:14Z")
I only go to about 5 folk festivals each weekend. Nebraska sounds wonderful. Do they have any corn? ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-boo-hoo-you-cant-live-at-your-first-choice/588428/9 "2011-07-09T18:54:42Z")
No corn. Mostly Runzas. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-boo-hoo-you-cant-live-at-your-first-choice/588428/10 "2011-07-09T19:00:55Z")
Lot’s of opportunity in the meat packing industry out that way. ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-boo-hoo-you-cant-live-at-your-first-choice/588428/11 "2011-07-09T19:10:37Z")
> [@FuriousGeorge](#): > > It’s not unreasonable… While I admit my post is not data, I moved my family of five, in one week’s time, from New York to Denver, CO for work after having been unemployed for 9 months. > > 7 years later, I’m still in Denver and still employed.. in the tech industry. You do what you have to do to support your family. Denver is not North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, or Nebraska (the states listed in the OP). Denver is a large city, and if you were to lose the job you found there, you would have a good shot of being able to find something else. ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-boo-hoo-you-cant-live-at-your-first-choice/588428/12 "2011-07-09T19:13:35Z")
> [@markdash](#): > > Denver is not North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, or Nebraska (the states listed in the OP). > > Denver is a large city, and if you were to lose the job you found there, you would have a good shot of being able to find something else. Yeah but from what the OP also states, assuming we are taking the OP at face, the job market is booming in these states and you would be seemingly just as likely to find a job there. But, yeah, I get it, its WYOMING, I felt the same way about Colorado, 7 years ago. You do what you have to do to support your family. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-boo-hoo-you-cant-live-at-your-first-choice/588428/13 "2011-07-09T19:25:16Z")
> [@markdash](#): > > Do you expect people who have been gainfully employed for years in a major city to just up and move to Wyoming? Depends on how badly they want to eat regularly and keep a roof over their heads, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![howye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9adbd/32.png) [@howye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/howye)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-boo-hoo-you-cant-live-at-your-first-choice/588428/14 "2011-07-09T19:32:39Z")
> [@FuriousGeorge](#): > > Yeah but from what the OP also states, assuming we are taking the OP at face, the job market is booming in these states and you would be seemingly just as likely to find a job there. > > But, yeah, I get it, its WYOMING, I felt the same way about Colorado, 7 years ago. You do what you have to do to support your family. What if your spouse has a job and moving would then put them out of work? Denver has ( or at one time had) a higher cost of living than Columbus. How would my family’s situation be improved? What about the mortgage on my existing home? Do I walk away from that existing debt? How do I then get a home in the new city or I am supposed to rent for the rest of my life? Moving may not be as simple as you make it out to be. I am a lawyer, moving to Colorado would require getting licensed in that state which may include retaking the bar exam. My wife is a teacher, moving would require navigating another state’s certifcation process, no easy or quick thing these days. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-boo-hoo-you-cant-live-at-your-first-choice/588428/15 "2011-07-09T19:33:08Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > Lot’s of opportunity in the meat packing industry out that way. > [@amanset](#): > > Especially those with families. It is also a huge risk. That’s the thing, really. If the country’s entire labor force were somehow magically completely fluid, interchangeable, and capable of magically transporting itself anywhere at any time–in effect, an abstraction suited to the reasoning of an undergrad after taking one intro-to-econ course–then everyone one unemployed in San Francisco (be they doctors, plumbers, or waiters), could suddenly appear in Iowa packing meat. And you know what? Soon Iowa would be at the top of that list. Also, it probably wouldn’t help the nation’s GDP, either, as families disintegrated by the constant disruption and more and more people became economic burdens. ---
**Author:** ![Twoflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twoflower/32/22_2.png) [@Twoflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twoflower)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-boo-hoo-you-cant-live-at-your-first-choice/588428/16 "2011-07-09T19:39:29Z")
So, according to the chart linked in the OP, California currently has an unemployment rate of 11%, compared to Wyoming’s 6%. If we assume that approximate half of California’s 37,000,000 population is in the labor force, that gives us a total of .11 x 18,500,000, or 2 million unemployed Californians. Four times the _total population_ of Wyoming. Somehow, I don’t think they’d all find jobs if they moved there … ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-boo-hoo-you-cant-live-at-your-first-choice/588428/17 "2011-07-09T19:42:23Z")
You would just have to let your home go. That is a big decision. it will be an enormous loss. If you are in Michigan, it is nearly impossible to sell a house. So move and rent a place ,assuming you find a job. making 2 payments will eat your paycheck. It is never as simple as people pretend. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-boo-hoo-you-cant-live-at-your-first-choice/588428/18 "2011-07-09T19:45:43Z")
> [@Twoflower](#): > > So, according to the chart linked in the OP, California currently has an unemployment rate of 11%, compared to Wyoming’s 6%. If we assume that approximate half of California’s 37,000,000 population is in the labor force, that gives us a total of .11 x 18,500,000, or 2 million unemployed Californians. Four times the _total population_ of Wyoming. Somehow, I don’t think they’d all find jobs if they moved there … See, that’s where Nebraska comes in… ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-boo-hoo-you-cant-live-at-your-first-choice/588428/19 "2011-07-09T19:48:39Z")
Speaking on behalf of the country-minded folk, please ignore the OP. Stay in the cities. They’re far better. We’d hate to force you to come out here with us. Ick, ick. No, those dirty noisy unpleasant cities are where you should stay. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-boo-hoo-you-cant-live-at-your-first-choice/588428/20 "2011-07-09T19:57:53Z")
> [@kushiel](#): > > It drives me nuts sometimes when people rant about unemployment. [Check out the stats.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_by_unemployment_rate) > > No, the entire US is not falling to pieces. Suck it up, buttercup, and realize you may not be able to live your dreams in New York, San Fran or Orlando. The job market is booming in the Northern states. Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska. According to your own cite, Wyoming has 6% unemployment, the same as Iowa, Virginia, and Hawaii, and \*worse \*than Vermont, Oklahoma, and New Hampshire. The unemployment rate in Wyoming isn’t rising, but it isn’t falling either. While the Dakotas and Nebraska have the lowest unemployment rates in the country, your cite indicates that the unemployment rate is (slightly) rising each month. That’s hardly “booming”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-boo-hoo-you-cant-live-at-your-first-choice/588428.md?page=2)