Florida still losing ground in wages despite uptick in jobs

Tampa Bay Times (i.e. St. Pete Times) ^ | Monday, February 6, 2012 | Jeff Harrington, Times Staff Writer

[dawn53]

The drop in Florida unemployment masks a troubling trend: The new jobs continue to pay far less than the ones that have been lost.

The state added 114,000 jobs last year. But the bulk of them paid on average about 25 percent less than the jobs that disappeared, according to a Tampa Bay Times analysis of jobs and industry wage data.

[dawn53]

I know the jobs data from the government is being manipulated supposedly to Obama's advantage. However, I still believe that people know things aren't right, no matter what the data says. For instance, the woman who asked Obama the question about her husband who was a semi-conductor engineer. He brushed off her question as anecdotal. But the average Joe knows from his experience or that of his friend, or neighbor, that the job situation is still abysmal. Even this liberal rag is admitting it.

[Major Matt Mason]

So the DNC Stenographers Pool will look behind the numbers when there is a "R" governor, but not with the "D" President? I'm not surprised.

[The Sons of Liberty]

Translation: 0bama’s imaginary jobs don’t pay much.

[Navy Patriot]

Zer0 drove out the existing, developed industry that had grown over years to high paying jobs.

The new start ups, if they even exist long enough to actually hire, don't start out paying high, you always have to build the business up to that point, unless you are crony capitalist and are getting taxpayer dollars, then you can immediately overpay union bosses.

[Navy Patriot]

Zer0 drove out the existing, developed industry that had grown over years to high paying jobs.

The new start ups, if they even exist long enough to actually hire, don't start out paying high, you always have to build the business up to that point, unless you are crony capitalist and are getting taxpayer dollars, then you can immediately overpay union bosses.

[driftdiver]

The Tampa market is horrible for most people. Its a bit better for technical IT people but he wages are still lower.

In 2000 project managers were making $110k on average here in Tampa. Now they are lucky to make $70k if they can find work.

[annieokie]

Which is why Florida voters need to really listen clearly what Newt Gingrich is saying about Space exploration, not as it was, but with Entrepreneurs and Private investors. This is big and means jobs again.

.

[RegulatorCountry]

The idea of Florida appeals to many people, the tropical climate and no state income tax do too. It will turn around if given enough time and is left alone. Of course wages have fallen. Supply and demand have swapped places due to this undeclared depression we’re in. There are far more job seekers than job openings. There is less money available. This is mitigated by much lower prices for real estate, so cost of living has probably fallen more than wages. The big problem down there is astronomical insurance, though. That hasn’t fallen.

[dawn53]

My kid has his master’s in an IT field...and his wages after he graduated (he had been interning with the company for a year before graduation) were disgraceful. His cousins with engineering degrees from reputable schools (GaTech) also were paid very low wages.

The interesting part, once they found other jobs, their present companies offered to “double” their salary to keep them...but they moved on. So companies know they can offer low wages because people are desperate for jobs.

I’ve checked job boards of some of the local municipalities and it’s the first time I can remember that municipal employees are making better pay than private employees.

[Mark]

YES! Florida has nice weather, so sleeping under a bridge, collecting welfare and unemployment is SO much better.