U.S. Employment Exploration: North Dakota
If living and working in a sparsely populated state with a low cost of living and a low crime rate appeals to you, North Dakota could be the place. Although it’s the 19th-largest state, its estimated 2004 population was under 635,000, and its crime index was only 79.6 versus 416 nationally. However, a closer look reveals minuses as well as pluses, and you’ll want to explore and weigh them carefully before choosing this state.
Climate & Geography
Average temperatures vary depending on the area and the information source. Moversweb.com shows average temperatures ranging from a winter low of 22 degrees to a summer high of 78. However, netstate.com lists –5 and 84. The highest recorded temperature was 121 degrees, and the lowest was –60.
Precipitation averages about 18 inches annually, but the southeastern portion of the state gets significantly more rain than the northwest does.
Approximately half of North Dakota is covered by the Great Plains, found in the southwestern portion of the state. Its famous Badlands lie in the southwest. The flat Red River Valley on the east is an extremely fertile farming area. To the west is the Drift Prairie, characterized by rolling hills, streams and valleys, and a large number of lakes.
Economy: Cost of Living vs. Income
According to moversweb.com, North Dakota’s cost of living is a modest 62.4, partly because housing prices are much lower than elsewhere. On the other hand, the state’s economy ranks 44 th in the country, and major economic factors such as globalization and innovation commonly place it in the bottom 10 states.
Local cost of living depends not only on the region but also on whether the area is rural or urban. For example, in rural areas such as most of North Dakota, public transportation is limited at best. A 1999 Consumer Expenditure Survey provided the following comparisons for monthly household expenditures:
- Transportation: 18.4 percent of urban, 23.6 percent of rural;
- Utilities: 6.3 percent of urban, 7.8 percent of rural;
- Health care: approximately 5 percent of urban, approximately 7 percent of rural.
Per capita income averaged $31,398 in 2004 compared to $32,937 nationwide. The highest per capita personal income for 2003 was $35,934 in Cavalier County, and the lowest was $15,468 in Sioux County.
Jobs, Wages & Unemployment
The 2000 U.S. Census indicated that the state’s three largest employer industries were services, retail trade and agricultural. Declining industries are Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting, at –6 percent, and Utilities, at –4.5 percent. Heading the “top 10” list of growing industries is Professional & Technical Services with a growth projection of 27.8 percent through 2012. It is followed by Arts, Entertainment and Recreation; Health Care and Social Assistance; Manufacturing; Administrative and Waste Services; Management of Companies and Enterprises; Real Estate and Rental and Leasing; Wholesale Trade; Information; and Accommodation and Food Services.
The average annual wage differs considerably county-by-county. The top county comes in at $46,141, while the bottom county is $18,328 (source: www.jobsnd.com). North Dakota’s labor market leans strongly toward the services sector, which generally means a high percentage of minimum- to low-wage jobs. Year-over-year employment comparison in the third quarter of 2005 was 2.1 percent, and average monthly wages increased 6.0 percent. Chief executives earned an average annual salary of approximately $150,000. By contrast, non-management computer and mathematical workers earned an average just under $60,000 annually.
Unemployment dropped from 4.3 percent in 1989 to 3.4 percent in 1999, putting North Dakota below the national rate. According to North Dakota’s Employment and Wages Quarterly Review, the unemployment rate for 2005 was 3.4 percent versus 5.1 percent nationwide.
State-Related Resources
If you’re considering a move to North Dakota, check out not only the official state web site but also other resources that can help identify information pertinent to your decision. For example, the Greater North Dakota Chamber of Commerce includes an online Resource Guide to chambers of commerce, corporations, associations, organizations and foundations.
Online Resources
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