A lot of people are having trouble finding jobs that pay well because of the recession. Eventually some of them get fed up with installing aquarium heaters for minimum wage and resolve to move to a new city in the hopes of finding a better job. If this sounds like you, it is imperative that you do your research into the cities that you are considering to avoid ending up in the same situation in a different place with the added burden of relocation bills. For those of you who are considering Bakersfield, California, this article should give you an overview of its employment situation.
Underemployment
Finding a job that supports you in an area with a high cost of living is a delicate balancing act. The middling cost of renting an apartment is around $900 and the per-capita income is just under $23,000. Where does that leave you, as a factory worker for a butterfly valve manufacturer? Well, if you were making the average income and renting the average apartment, you would be spending almost 50% of your paycheck on rent.
Unemployment
While it is possible to survive if one is underemployed, particularly if you're pooling your income with another person (such as a spouse or a roommate who works with you at Bite Type Fittings Inc.) it is nearly impossible if you have no job. This is a reality for more than 10% of the workforce in Bakersfield. Compared to the average of 12.3% for the state of California, that's actually doing okay. These unfortunate people have to try to live off of unemployment benefits if they can get them. They account for most of the approximately 17% of residents in Bakersfield who are living in poverty.
Top Industries for Men
Don't despair over these figures, however. There are many jobs in Bakersfield for those who will work hard and care to go looking for them. The best chance you have is finding a job is in the city's top industries. For men, the top sector is construction, with 11% of the workforce helping build buildings and install instantaneous water heaters. Next comes public administration at 7%, which offers opportunities to office trained college grads. Tied for third we have education, oil, and tourism at 6%. Rounding out the list are agriculture at 5% and technical services at 4%.
Top Industries for Women
Ladies looking for jobs will find the most openings in the sectors favored by their peers as well. Though there are some in heavy industries, operating vacuum pump systems and driving trucks, 18% prefer education and 15% favor health care. Tourism is third with 7% and public administration ties with finance and insurance at 6%. Lastly we have social assistance at 5% and technical services at 4%.
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