Where My Research Led Me

After searching for an unemployment rate that seemed to be elusive and unlike anything else in the United States, I concluded there are a lot of factors involved in the low rate.  One factor is the result of the government putting money into certain job markets. Another is the population and job market growing instead of decreasing. Lastly, the greatest find since the one in Alaska: the oil boom in the west part of the state.

In the beginning of my quest for answers I found a lot of helpful information about how the economy worked from my first two sources. This led me to ask if there was inflation because of the low unemployment rate.

The next sources I found showed me helpful information on population growth and job growth, two signs that show the economy is doing well. Although they were good signs, I worried about inflation and signs that the economy was doing other things.  I also found a fun migration map that showed more movement within the state and into it rather than out of the state of North Dakota.  This still makes me wonder if kids are moving out of state - as most of my classmates did when I was in high school - or has it slowed some?

My final sources helped me find that North Dakota is a state with a budget surplus and where the money was spent, along with addressing the huge oil boom in the western part of the state.  I am not quite sure as to why the other cities in ND are growing and have low unemployment rate, but I think it has to do with the movement within the state to the oil fields.  I am curious: What is the quality of the applicants that are getting some of the jobs in ND?  Not saying they are all low quality, but when I applied for the jobs in Williston, ND the biggest and first question they ask is “Do you have a place to live?”

I don’t see “Fracking” as a good thing, because of the ground water and pollution problems, but adding that many jobs into the United States economy is a huge spectacle to behold.  I am still in shock when I watch news stories showing the jobs created and amount of money they are offering for some of them.  I am torn because the jobs are good, but the pollution is bad for all of us. Has the migration of people changed because of job opportunities with the oil industries, or because of other industries that government money was put into?  I would also like to know why the other areas of the state have a lot more job openings every year? Why can you drive down any street in most North Dakota cities and see all kinds of job openings posted everywhere? 

As I look towards my argument essay I am looking at reasons why low unemployment is good and bad and why ND would be a good place to live or not because of the job market.  I would also like to find out other deciding factors on whether ND would be a good place to live based on what the culture, climate, education and living expenses are like compared to Colorado.