San Angelo – Economic Powerhouse

[andysocial]

Originally published at BunkBlog. You can comment here or there.

According to this site, Tom Green County has a median household income $8800 lower than the national median. And, the per capita income is $5400 lower than the national per capita income.

So why are we building so many new businesses here, exactly?

Comments

[visgoth.livejournal.com]

Employees come cheap there? Cost of living is probably low, which would be attractive to prospective employees looking to relocate?

[andysocial]

These are all true. But, with the lower cost of living comes an overall decrease in professional-level jobs. We have a preponderance of service jobs, and a minimal number of doctor and lawyer types. Not much in between.

[mcbarnes1970.livejournal.com]

Tm Green has his own county? Since when are Canadians allowed to have counties in the US?

[visgoth.livejournal.com]

It's how we keep 'em from running for President. 'Cause can you imagine the chaos if Shatner got elected and then at the last minute someone noticed he couldn't legally take office?

[just-jenn.livejournal.com]

This is something I've been asking myself recently. I agree with a previous poster: cheap labor. I think it's the lucrative $5.15 minimum wage standard for just about every job around here that's causing potential businesses to say "Hmmmmmmmm....."

More businesses means more jobs and more jobs means more people need more services which means more money is dumped into the town and thus, a perpetuating little cycle.

[andysocial]

More (minimum wage) jobs mean more (minimally-skilled) people need more services, which are also manned by minimum-wage people. The perpetual cycle here has been one of "don't rise too high" - anyone who wants something better than working at the restaurants or stores but doesn't have the advanced degrees to be a doctor just leaves town.

I'm lucky to have the clearances and experience I do, so I can get one of the few professional jobs in town that don't require a doctorate.

[just-jenn.livejournal.com]

C's in the same boat with the security/clearances. He has been offered several jobs locally (WCN, ASU, GD to name a few), but none of the pays what he's worth in his opinion. lol. He was recently offered a job by NETAPP, but its based in Dallas and there's no way we're moving there. So who knows where the wind will blow us.

I suppose the upside is that the cost of living here is inexpensive compared to other regions, so lower pays don't necessarily mean lower living standards, wihtin reason of course. Although, what does boggle the mind is the new $200K plus homes they're building down Southland. Unless you're a doctor, who's going to afford those?