The opportunities for Alabama employment are among the most dynamic in the world. With growing cities like Birmingham, Mobile, and Montgomery, finding quality employment in Alabama is easier than one might expect.
The jobs available in Alabama are increasingly in high-tech fields such as computer science, aerospace engineering, and biochemistry. The number of high-tech jobs hosted in Alabama means that there are a growing number of well-trained, well-qualified workers entering the local markets, and that the local economies are benefiting from the positive business climate that a better educated workforce generates by its mere presence in the local area.
Alabama unemployment
Alabama unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) increased from October 2008 to October 2009 by 5.2% to a rate of 10.9%
[Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics]
Alabama Employment Opportunities
Opportunities abound for Alabama Employment. While there has been limited job growth as of the end of 2008, the state is managing to keep jobs from leaving the state, as well. As lower-paying jobs are lost due to general economic conditions, those jobs are steadily replaced by the type that is all but immune to economic pressure.
The medical field, educational support jobs, and the research industry is alive and well across the major metropolitan areas of the state. Tuscaloosa offers some of the top biomedical research firms in the world, and research is alive and well at both the University of Alabama and the local hospitals.
Workers in the engineering and natural sciences are needed for Alabama employment to help support the state’s extensive mining interests in the mountainous areas of the state, and the health care industry is blossoming, as well.
Annual reporting numbers from the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations show that the growth of Alabama employment nursing jobs for registered nurses is holding steady at over 2,000 new jobs per year. Health care support positions, such as those for a nurse’s aide are growing quickly as well – with an average of more than 700 new positions annually statewide. Nearly 1,000 new teachers are needed each year for Alabama employment, and the state expects that number to increase substantially over the next 10 years.
At the end of 2008, the State of Alabama published a report that expects the number sales jobs to increase by over 2,000 new jobs annually. By 2016, the state expects over 300,000 new Alabama employment positions to be available, and workers will be needed in all industry sectors. New pharmaceutical firms are coming into the state, and the research and development of new medications is expected to grow the Alabama employment in that single sector by more than 3 percent annually. Nearly 30,000 new jobs are expected in the health care industry alone.
One of the biggest contributing factors in the growth of Alabama employment is that an ever-increasing number of graduates from the state’s public and private educational institutions are opening new businesses both in the professional and executive sectors. Of course, the bulk of new job creating is centered around city’s such as Tuscaloosa, Mobile, and Huntsville.
The major population centers in the state that have access to a ready pool of qualified labor are the fastest growing job markets. These areas also offer among the most affordable living conditions. With costs-of-living well below the national average, living and working in Alabama is an excellent prospect. The statewide cost of living in Alabama is substantially lower than the national average, and even taking a small salary cut can net an increase when pursuing Alabama employment.
Alabama Employment Resources
Of course, it isn’t always an option to drive the length and breadth of a state to find a suitable Alabama employment, so knowing the state’s employment agencies can make the search much easier. The Alabama Department of Industrial Relations is responsible for tracking Alabama employment numbers across the state, and it also serves as a wonderful one-stop-shopping center for new job positions.
Many employers who are looking for new workers to fulfill their Alabama employment requirements post bulletins with the state’s Department of Industrial Relations. A brief stop at one of the Department’s offices around the state will net a wealth of new job opportunities of all skill levels. Typically, these postings provide at least a basic indication of the salary involved, as well, so it’s easy to sort jobs by pay grade.
A comprehensive listing of the state’s 150 top employers is available, as well, for those who are looking for work. This list is compiled annually, and is sorted alphabetically for easier reference. Companies on the Top 150 Employers List comprise the businesses with the most employees statewide.
Alabama Living Conditions
A large portion of the state’s inhabitants, especially around larger cities, are renters of either a house or apartment. The state has extensive housing options, and the real estate prices are far lower than the national average.
The median home price in Alabama is below 200,000 dollars, putting a home well in the price range of most of the new high-tech jobs in the state. Apartment rental in Alabama is a major industry, as well, and apartments can be rented in nice buildings for prices ranging from 600 to 1000 dollars monthly.
Many new job applicants looking for Alabama employment rent for at least 3 months before committing to a home purchase. The cost of housing, according to PayScale.com, for a home in Alabama is on average 25 percent lower than the national average, with the overall cost of living falling 9 percent below national averages.
Alabama Employment
Of course, money isn’t everything. There are certainly numerous reasons to consider a move to Alabama, including the state’s recreational activities. In addition to vibrant nightlife in the state’s largest cities, the state also offers dozens of lakes, offering the opportunity for water-related activities including water-skiing, wakeboarding, and excellent boating.
For many, though, the reasons to seek Alabama employment can be boiled down to just a few words. The Robert Trent Jones golf Trail. This system of 11 championship courses scattered around the state is considered by many to be the best large-scale golf system in the world. In excess of 450 holes of beautifully manicured golfing opportunities means that even the hardest workers will be driven to find time to hit these exquisite courses time after time. Regardless of your reason for seeking Alabama employment there are many opportunities for high paying positions.
