[bmaurice]

Hey guys, well im pretty sure im moving to pasadena this spring with my girlfriend she got a job their so..... yup. dont really know what to expect for jobs and what not around the area. i have a framing and roofing background. but im only experianced in asphalt shingles and im not positive but i dont think that area has a lot of asphalt shingles.
i am also concerned about finding a decent job. maybe its just me but i always invision califiornia's labor pool being 95% illegal mexicans.
Anyway long story short i dont really know what to expect, any information would be great. thanx guys.

 

[mikey48]

Lots of asphalts in the area. You will do great and will love the sun. Traffic does suck.

 

[BKFranks]

Pasadena is an older area. Lots of old, very nice, expensive homes. You'll be working all over the LA area. You're right about the illegals. Residential is mostly illegals here. I'm down in OC, but have driven all the way up there for jobs. Did a lot of work in the South Bay area for years and just did a job earlier this year in Pasadena at the Arts College up in the hills of Pasadena. Be prepared for the traffic and the warm weather. It rains here like maybe 4 days a year.

 

[ewingpainting]

I've done some work in Pasadena it a beautiful area. illegals are in any border states guess we native are just use to it. Will you be looking for a job or trying to get your contractors lic? If you like old cruisers route 66 is huge there.

 

[Gus Dering]

I moved from my hometown in Poughkeepsie NY to San Diego almost 25 years ago. I'll guarantee you one thing, you will fall in love with the weather. You will be in shorts and tee shirts at least 10 months out of the year. It will not rain for 6 months or more. Virtual framing and roofing heaven.

After that the adjustments may take a while. I hope you fall in with some good guys that know the area and take you along for the ride.

Framing on the west coast is drastically different than the east. You can fill a full sized truck with the hardware for a single family home. That will be a big change dealing with all the hold downs ect...

If you are the type that thrives on change and diversity you will be in for the time of your life.

I hope you find what you are coming for with out trouble.:thumbsup:

 

[BKFranks]

Framing on the west coast is drastically different than the east. You can fill a full sized truck with the hardware for a single family home. That will be a big change dealing with all the hold downs ect...

You got that right!

 

[brooklynite]

Hey guys, well im pretty sure im moving to pasadena this spring with my girlfriend she got a job their so..... yup. dont really know what to expect for jobs and what not around the area. i have a framing and roofing background. but im only experianced in asphalt shingles and im not positive but i dont think that area has a lot of asphalt shingles.
i am also concerned about finding a decent job. maybe its just me but i always invision califiornia's labor pool being 95% illegal mexicans.
Anyway long story short i dont really know what to expect, any information would be great. thanx guys.

You are correct about laborers being 95% mexican maybe even 99%. I have been living in Los Angeles for 4 years and I have yet to see one non-mexican laborer. When it comes to foreman and supervisors the mexican percentage probably drops to 20%.

About illegal status, I think that is part of the past. Most of them are legal, either born here or married here. I speak to a lot of them and I am sure most are legal, they work for legitimate companies that are unable to hire people on cash. This is not some small town, its California and the law rules pretty much everywhere especially in construction. You dont want to go to jail for nothing while legal workers are always around working for the same amount of money.

About jobs, Southern California is pretty much dead zone. Nothing new is starting and no one is hiring and there are probably tens of thousands of qualified people out of work for over a year.

 

[robin303]

Need to find that lucky builder. Get on line and look what is going on in the local newspaper want ads and maybe someone in that area also can help you get the foot in the door.Good luck man. :thumbsup:

 

[bmaurice]

damn... newengland is just geting out of this economic slump. but it looks like SOCAL is worse then newengland ever was. i would think the terminator would be able to terminate the bad times no? anyway i am always up for a challenge, and very excited i am an avid rock climber so being right by mountains is never a problem. i have hardly no bills, and no kids that i know of. so it could be a lot harder.

 

[BKFranks]

This is from the LA Times Nov 20th:
"Los Angeles County's unemployment rate climbed to 12.8% in October, with job losses in manufacturing, leisure and hospitality, and construction. The unemployment rate in Riverside and San Bernardino counties reached 14.6% in October, up from a revised 12.3% in September. That region has been particularly hard hit by the construction bust."

Hope you find a job.

 

[ewingpainting]

Ya! BK. Do you think those numbers are accurate? I would think it should be about 20.

 

[BKFranks]

Those numbers don't include the underemployed(people taking part time work because they can't find full time jobs) and the people who have fallen off the list for being unemployed for too long. The national number is closer to 18% making the numbers in California even higher than that. I saw a report on it, but I don't remember where now.


edit:
"Last month, California's underemployment rate was 22.5 percent.
SF Chronicle Nov 21, 2009

 

[jhark123]

This is your father speaking:

If you have a job now DO NOT QUIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ewingpainting]

Those numbers don't include the underemployed(people taking part time work because they can't find full time jobs) and the people who have fallen off the list for being unemployed for too long. The national number is closer to 18% making the numbers in California even higher than that. I saw a report on it, but I don't remember where now.


edit:
"Last month, California's underemployment rate was 22.5 percent.
SF Chronicle Nov 21, 2009

Ya, I knew 20 was even low. Crazy I keep hearing more and more lay offs. I try to plug my ears so it doesn't discourage me. Being a new business has its advantages on other misfortunes. When business that have been around for a while, even the large entities are dropping off like flies and bottoming out HARD. The smaller entities like the mom and pop shops are rising and new business's. It will be interesting to see who our top dogs when the economy jumps back. I think it will be the guy that lived next door and you never even heard hi name.
I like to tell some, mainly competitor. "You'll remember me later" of course there some kidding there but yet I am serious. Being someone that your competitors don't know is a wonderful position to be in these days

 

[Green & Gold]

I'm a CA native with no racial bias at all, but I honestly have not seen a white person working on a roof in over 5 years.