My county had the greatest employment increase in the nation according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics as reported by the Denver Post. Seven and a half percent increase in a year. That's among the 300 largest counties in the country, not sure how they measure large.
It's a strong back, hard work, young person, type market. Oil and construction.
The numbers they used were for the year ending in March. Also not sure why the time lag but if anything the economy has accelerated since then.
Weld County borders Boulder County but to the east, flat high plains. Almost too dry to grow wheat, some years it is too dry. Four thousand square miles and a quarter million people. We decided not to secede from Colorado over guns but we thought about it.
The effects of the demand for labor are being felt in adjoining counties and among other occupations. Hourly wages are up in Home Depot and Walmart as everyone is feeling the squeeze. A ten dollar an hour Walmart employee could be very tempted to drive a water truck or work on a siding crew.
Average wages in the oil field are $1200 per week. Nowhere near as high as more famous places like Williston North Dakota but these jobs are being filled by locals or from adjoining counties.
Anything county is done very well. Huge, well stocked libraries with hot and cold running librarians. Social Services has no lines. Roads are freshly paved.
What's my message? Not to become like Weld, we are just temporarily geographically lucky. My message is that this is what happens when there are more people who want to hire employees than there are people to work. Wages go up. Wages go up a lot. Costs go up too, but most costs are luxuries not necessities.
We don't need to export jobs or import workers. What type of effect would $1,200 per week have on young guys in Ferguson Missouri? America doesn't just need jobs, and there will always be jobs that aren't terribly stimulating, but that doesn't mean those jobs need be low paying. Americans are happy to be bored, dirty, and tired, but it sure is nicer when we are paid for it.