San Diego employment opportunities offer an attractive excuse to move to the sunny beaches and urbane environs of the southern west coast. A veritable melting pot of culture, San Diego offers a wide variety of jobs to individuals of all training and educational backgrounds. The city stands behind a simple motto, “Working Hard to Keep San Diego Working”. That statement should come as a relief to the many men and women around the world that find themselves without much job security during these trying economic times. The county of San Diego is determined not only to give people opportunities for employment but also to help them retain their positions over the years.
Employment Opportunities
The fact that San Diego is an ethnically diverse urban coastal county allows it to offer some unique positions to interested applicants.
• Water-related Employment – Lifeguards, aquatic rescue teams and medics are just a few of the water-related employment opportunities that are available in San Diego.
• Police Force – San Diego offers individuals interested in a career in law enforcement a wide variety of environments in which to enforce the law. Whether it is the beach beat, downtown entertainment watch or the skate park (or other street sport) beat, San Diego police work is different than it is in other major cities around the world.
• City Attorney Positions – Being a metropolis, San Diego has a large number of attorneys practicing law within the county limits. The city of San Diego is willing to interview any law students that have been admitted to the State Bar of California.
• Bi-lingual Positions – San Diego boasts a diverse cultural mix and therefore translation and bi-lingual positions open up regularly within the county. Bi-lingual positions are most readily available for individuals who specialize in the English and Spanish languages.
According to the statistics provided at the San Diego Workforce Partnership website (http://www.sandiegoatwork.com/generate/html/LMI/employment_statistics.html), as of May 2009, the unemployment rate in San Diego County was at 9.4%, which is the equivalent of approximately 147,000 individuals. This is a slight improvement from the month of March, which saw a 9.5% unemployment rate.
These percentages are slightly higher than the reported unemployment rate throughout the U.S. as a whole, but are almost two percentage points lower than reported unemployment rates in California as a whole. The cost of living is also less expensive in San Diego than it is in some other regions of California (i.e. San Francisco, Los Angeles, see: http://www.cityrating.com/costOfLiving/state.asp?state=CA ). Therefore, if you are looking to live and work in California, San Diego is a viable option to consider.
Employment Agencies and Resources
The availability of good employment resources is imperative to the success of any individual that is considering relocating to San Diego. A few resources can get you started on the path to finding the perfect job:
• Temporary Employment Agencies – Temporary employment is a great option for individuals that are in transition during their first few months in San Diego. Here are a few sites that specialize in temporary assignments:
1. Apple One Employment Service – http://www.appleone.com
2. Randstad Work Solutions – http://www.us.randstad.com
3. Venturi Staffing Partners – http://www.venturi-staffing.com
• Specialized Long-Term Placement Agencies – For trained professionals in various fields, working with a specialized placement agency can give you the edge you need in seeking employment within your chosen field in San Diego:
1. Medical Resources Staffing Services http://www.medresourcesstaffing.com
2. Accountants Inc. – http://www.accountantsinc.com
3. TLC Staffing – http://www.tlcstaffing.com
• Government and City Jobs – There are many well-paying jobs to be found working for city and local government offices. These jobs tend to be more secure than positions in other industries and are typically available at all levels of expertise:
1. City Employment Index – http://www.sandiego.gov/directories/jobopp.shtml
2. The City of San Diego Employment Opportunities -http://www.sandiego.gov/empopp
3. City of San Diego Official Website – http://www.sandiego.gov
Living Conditions
Food
According to San Diego’s Real Estate Library (http://www.realestatelibrary.com/costofliving.html), acquiring great food in San Diego at affordable prices will be the least of your concerns. In fact, since much of the produce is grown locally and in nearby Mexico, season fruits and vegetables are abundant in San Diego and are available at prices that are below average. In addition, there is no tax on food in San Diego whatsoever.
Housing
The cost of renting or owning a home in San Diego is likely to be your largest expense while in town. However, the outrageous prices that many are paying for prime beachfront properties are not an appropriate measure by which to judge the overall market. In fact, there are some very affordable neighborhoods in San Diego.
Urban areas in San Diego that are relatively affordable include:
• Normal Heights
• Hillcrest
• Golden Hill
• University Heights
Suburban Areas in San Diego that are relatively affordable include:
• Suburban Heights
• Poway
• Chula Vista
Recreation
It is a known fact that San Diego boasts more fair weather days (approx. 72 degrees) than anywhere else. In addition, the city boasts long stretches of beautiful beaches. This combination of weather and geography makes San Diego a great spot for outdoor sports and recreation.
San Diego also offers residents and visitors a wide variety of restaurants that are casual to fine dining, and everything in between. The theatre district is alive and well in the La Jolla neighborhood, which offers not only stage performances but also offers restaurants, museums and many other cultural expressions.
Transportation
There are many ways to get around San Diego. Here are just a few for your consideration:
• The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System http://www.sdcommute.com
• Trolley – http://www.sdmts.com/Trolley/Trolley.asp
• Taxis – http://www.sandiegotaxicab.com, http://www.driveu.com
• Coaster Trains – http://www.gonctd.com/coaster_intro.htm
As far as street driving is concerned, traffic and road conditions vary depending on both neighborhood and time of day.
(visit http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist11/d11tmc/sdmap/showmap.php for real-time traffic reports in San Diego)
Employment Conclusion
While you will not find San Diego on any “Top Ten Cheapest Cities” lists, there are many affordable locations within city limits where families of virtually any income can make their home. In addition, the benefits of fair weather, vibrant culture and unique geography make San Diego a very desirable location for individuals to live and work.
There are three main areas to research (using the above links and additional resources) when considering a move to San Diego:
• Housing – Know whether you prefer urban or suburban living environs.
• Jobs – Figure the income you will need for your chosen standard of living and “job shop” accordingly.
• Transportation – Understand your commute and all it entails.
Sun, culture and the balancing blend or city and country landscapes make San Diego a fine place to live. The city has a great many resources available to her residents and individuals inclined to live in San Diego are likely to prosper and thrive in the favorable environs.
