Midland began a fourth year of reporting the lowest unemployment among the state's 26 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in January.
Figures released Thursday by the Texas Workforce Commission showed Midland had an unemployment rate of 2.9 percent in January, up from 2.7 percent in December but below 3.2 percent in January 2007. Odessa was next with 3.4 percent, followed by Amarillo with 3.5 percent and Lubbock with 3.6 percent. Midland reported the lowest unemployment rate in Texas in January 2005 and has done so since.
While Midland lost 900 jobs from December to January, from January 2007 to January 2008 it saw 2,600 new jobs for a job growth rate of 4.1 percent. Crawley noted that during the 12-month period, virtually every industrial sector reported increases, led by mining and construction, with added 700 jobs for a 5 percent growth rate. Leisure and hospitality added 500 jobs for a growth rate of 8.8 percent and other services added 200 jobs for a growth rate of 8.7 percent. The information sector was the only one to report a job loss -- 100 jobs -- over the year.
"It's great that we have so many new jobs, we have so many opportunities," said John Breier, president and chief executive officer of the Midland Chamber of Commerce, adding that many communities around the nation would be "happy to have the opportunities we have here with low unemployment."
At the same time, he said, low unemployment is a double-edged sword that also bring challenges, including finding enough workers to fill available jobs. "I was just in Washington, D.C., working with a couple of federal agencies there on how we could help them help us with our labor shortage," he said.
Because of the available opportunities, he said, Midland is attracting new residents, which has raised the challenge of providing housing for all the new Midlanders.
"A year or so ago we had 200 houses on the market; a month ago, we had 400 homes on the market. Apartment complexes are coming online and my understanding is some of them are already completely pre-leased," he said. And with the recent explosion at Alon's Big Spring Refinery, Breier said workers will be coming to the area for a year or so to repair the plant, "adding pressure to the housing situation."
He praised city of Midland officials for their efforts in promoting development of new housing and apartments. "We need housing for entry-level workers, we need apartments that are realistically affordable for those entering the workforce at those lower salaries," he said.
Housing is "joined at the hip" with the need for good, quality employees, he said, and resolving both issues will take time. "You can't turn a battleship on a dime."
A reporter for the Wall Street Journal was in town a couple of weeks ago, Breier said, doing a story on how the city's residents were dealing with $100 oil.
"I made the point to him, and it's a point I think needs to be made to those inside the city: While we have this extremely robust economy and issues like low unemployment and housing shortages, the community has handled this significant upturn in the economy very well and it's doing so because it invested in its infrastructure over the last 10 to 15 years. The new terminal at the airport was built, Loop 250 was completed, the Scharbauer Sports Complex was built to offer that venue, the interchange at Interstate 20 where Wal-Mart built its second store. You and I may have to wait for one turn of the light, which is nothing compared to Houston or Dallas, but we're able to accommodate this significant increase in the economy because we invested in our infrastructure," he said. "We should feel good about the political decisions made to approve those investments."
Statewide, the unemployment rate rose to 4.3 percent from 4.2 percent in December with the 28,000 jobs added in January offset by more Texans seeking jobs.
While Midland had the lowest rate in the state, the highest was found in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, 7.3 percent.
We've got a second Wal-Mart, what more could you ask for?
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I've seriously been considering a move to the mid-west. The firm has gone through some "right sizing" and is amenable to office transfers for their new hires.
Biggs, don't take this the wrong way, but I've been to Midland. What a fucking hole. I couldn't get out of there fast enough. Dusty, nasty and flat as fuck.
I needed a tire for my trailer, went to the one of the Super Wal-marts. Found out they couldn't do tires because only one guy knew how to work the machine and he was on vacation for 2 weeks Not to mention the hords of illegals living in the motels fulltime with families fulltime because of the oil boom happening there now. I'll pass...................
Forgot to add it's MF Hot as hell around July/August....................................... but it's a dry heat, right?
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Last edited by 99 RT/10 : March 8th, 2008 at 12:58 AM.
[b[Biggs, don't take this the wrong way,[/b] but I've been to Midland. What a fucking hole. I couldn't get out of there fast enough. Dusty, nasty and flat as fuck.
I needed a tire for my trailer, went to the one of the Super Wal-marts. Found out they couldn't do tires because only one guy knew how to work the machine and he was on vacation for 2 weeks Not to mention the hords of illegals living in the motels fulltime with families fulltime because of the oil boom happening there now. I'll pass...................
Forgot to add it's MF Hot as hell around July/August....................................... but it's a dry heat, right?
Don't take this the wrong way, but you're dumb, you're stupid and you're ugly as fuck! j/k
Weren't you here just the other day? We've been having some funky weather which is typical this time of year, and what you experienced at the Wally World and the motels are exactly the problems I've written about before. I've been to Sebring in February as well as Naples several times and you can keep the humidity.
I mainly wrote this to show that not everywhere in the country is dying, nor is every industry. We've tried to recruit machinists from Detroit and all along the gulf coast after the hurricane and they all were afraid to move away from home. I've been to those shitholes and I can't imagine someone hanging on there. To each his own I guess.
Most of the time I've lived here I've agreed with everyone's shitty assessment of the place in order to keep people away so there would be more opportunity and less traffic for those of us that were already here. However now times are so good and we are in such desperate need of good people I'll spread the word when I can!
Guys at 1st sight West Tx doesnt seem like much. But I promise this is an awesome place to live. People are extremely nice and respectful here. I have employees from alot of different states and when they come down they actually get scared and confused becuase people do things like, open doors for you, ask how you are doing, and pull over to the shoulder to let you pass on a 2 lane road. We dont have much crime to speak of. I actually have forgotten and left my garage open a few times overnight with the Vipers sitting in there with the keys in them.
Our economy is booming and there is alot of old and new money here. There are people going into business for themselves all the time, and for the most part are successful.
Now for the good part, we have endless miles of open flat road to stretch the legs on our Vipers, or in the case of lucky bastards like Peak and Biggs your Ford Gt. For having such a small population we have every car you can imagine here. Lots of Vipers, Ford Gts, and muscle cars. We even have a Veyron that actually gets driven. Several tracks in the area, Big Bend race every year. I really cant imagine being anywhere else that would be better for a car nut.
Now for the bad, wetbacks are rampid but they usually dont bother anyone and we need them. I just get tired of seeing bright orange cowboy boots and new trucks with endless fake chrome from autozone. It does get windy and dusty this time of year but mainly we have beautiful dry, warm weather and awesome sunsets. My biggest gripe is we have no Lake close by.
So, there is more than meets the eye here. I think it has to do with the lifestyle you live. I am very impatient and couldnt imagine driving in traffic, ever. At anytime here I can make it home in 5 to 10 mins across town. Like in New York, you guys are seem like you are pissed at all times. You guys blow the horn 3 secs before the light even turns green! And everybody has a dreary look on their face, no thanks Ill deal with the dust here.
Don't take this the wrong way, but you're dumb, you're stupid and you're ugly as fuck! j/k
Weren't you here just the other day? We've been having some funky weather which is typical this time of year, and what you experienced at the Wally World and the motels are exactly the problems I've written about before. I've been to Sebring in February as well as Naples several times and you can keep the humidity.
I mainly wrote this to show that not everywhere in the country is dying, nor is every industry. We've tried to recruit machinists from Detroit and all along the gulf coast after the hurricane and they all were afraid to move away from home. I've been to those shitholes and I can't imagine someone hanging on there. To each his own I guess.
Most of the time I've lived here I've agreed with everyone's shitty assessment of the place in order to keep people away so there would be more opportunity and less traffic for those of us that were already here. However now times are so good and we are in such desperate need of good people I'll spread the word when I can!
It's all good, either way.
Heh, yeah. I did a massive road trip, moving a friend from ATL to Midland. Lost his job and had to get to Midland to work on some aircraft at the museum. Looked liek the Beverly Hillbillies driving across the country .
I went by Ray's business to say hi, but he was gone off racing somewhere(pro stock I think). Did get to see another friend I did not expect to see . I may be back for the airshow in Oct. I hear it's a great event.
Not to mention the hords of illegals living in the motels fulltime with families fulltime because of the oil boom happening there now. I'll pass...................
. I may be back for the airshow in Oct. I hear it's a great event. 
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