Top Places to Live and Work

                                                                                         

If you feel as though you're not getting anywhere and no opportunities are appearing in your immediate future. Maybe it's time for a change of scenery. Business Week recently compiled a list of the "Best Places to Start Over"; here is a highlight of some of their picks. Who knows, maybe you'll get inspired to pack up and give one of these places a try.

Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage may be slightly out of the way, the winters are extra long, dark and cold. But, on a positive note, the summers are gorgeous, albeit short, the scenery is breathtaking, and 28% of the employers are hiring. Employers here are hard-pressed for educated, skilled workers, and the scales are definitely tipped in favor of the prospective employee.

Providence Health & Services Alaska claims they average close to 200 open positions. The toughest jobs to fill are speech-language pathologists and nurses with training in wound care and neonatal intensive care.

Other large employers include ConocoPhillips (COP) and ExxonMobil (XOM), representing the oil industry, and large canneries such as Unisea and Alyeska.

The average home price is $313,796 and the unemployment rate is 8.1%.

Texas

Texas remains strong in its oil and health care industry, and as a result has experienced less ill effects from the economic crisis than most states. Perhaps due to sheer volume of opportunities, they too, are having problems finding skilled employees.

Provo-Orem, Utah

For any techies out there, Utah may prove to be the land of opportunity. The unemployment rate sits at about 5.1%, but many of the positions are filled by employees in their 20's who could easily return to school, leaving vacant positions. Very specific jobs such as software engineers are in high demand with information technology companies.

About 24% of the businesses are planning to hire in the next quarter, and other popular industries include construction, transportation, financial, education, and health services.

The average home price in Provo-Orem is a low $195,333.

Kennewick-Richland-Pasco, Washington

About 24% of the employers in this tri-cities area are planning to hire in the next few months. Strong industries include manufacturing, food processing, and services. Two huge employers include Washington State University and the Energy Department's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Average home prices here are $133,134 and the unemployment rate is 8.8%.

Omaha, Neb.-Council Bluffs, Iowa

22% of local area employers plan to hire in the next quarter. Good job prospects include construction, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, financial, education and health services, and leisure and hospitality. A number of large corporations make their home here, including Berkshire Hathaway, Union Pacific, ConAgra Foods and Kiewit. The cost of living is low, there is little pollution and plenty of things to do.

The average home price is $114,977.

Richmond, Virginia

As with Omaha, 22% of local area employers plan to hire in the next quarter. Good job prospects include construction, durable goods manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, transportation, education and health services, and leisure and hospitality.

The many varied industries in Richmond includes chemical, food, tobacco manufacturing, biotech, high-tech fibers and semiconductors.

The average home price is $167,185 and the unemployment rate is 7.8%.

About the author:
Jerry Clifford has received the prestigious 100% Club award for his success as a real estate agent in the Minneapolis real estate area. He is certified as an ePRO and prides himself on attention to detail. If you need help in your search for Apple Valley Minnesota real estate, visit JerryClifford.com.

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