economy:

Report: Las Vegas is No. 1 destination for movers

Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009 | 3:53 p.m.

The latest trend: Leaving Las Vegas (1-6-2009)
Measuring population in moving boxes (8-4-2008)
Slowdown offers Nevada a chance to look inward, plan for long term (12-27-2008)
Nevada falls to No. 8 in population growth (12-22-2008)

"CityCenter to hire 12,000 employees."

"Metro Police to hire 400 officers."

With headlines like those, why wouldn’t people move from other states to find work in Las Vegas?

In fact, it appears they are, according to a report issued today by Relocation.com, a New York company that helps people move locally or from state to state; either on their own or by hiring companies that can pack their goods, move their goods, or both.

"Despite the housing market struggles and a downturn in gaming revenue, Las Vegas still beckons to people looking for a fresh start, according to an analysis of moving requests from 2008 by Relocation.com," the company said Wednesday. "The data revealed that on a per-capita basis for cities with more than 1 million people, Las Vegas retained its spot as the No. 1 destination for people looking to make a long distance state-to-state move."

The company said that of the moving requests involving Las Vegas it handled in 2008, 52 percent were looking to move to Las Vegas, while 48 percent were requests to leave Las Vegas.

Today’s numbers do reflect the weakening in the Las Vegas economy.

Relocation.com said that in 2007, 56 percent of the requests involving Las Vegas were from people looking to move to Las Vegas, while 44 percent were moves out of Las Vegas.

The relocation company said that although the recession has spared no area of the country, cities in the West and South continue to appeal to people relocating, whether to take a job or to find a new place to live with more solid economic opportunities. Las Vegas was followed in popularity by Denver; Charlotte, N.C.; the Phoenix area; Portland, Ore.; Seattle; Orlando, Fla.; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta and the Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg, Fla., area.

The Relocation.com numbers differ from those of U-Haul. The Las Vegas Sun reported that U-Haul found that in 2007, outbound U-Haul rentals barely outpaced those arriving in Las Vegas. In 2008, the number of outbound rentals was 1 percent higher than rentals arriving in Las Vegas, the Sun reported.

It’s unclear which set of numbers best reflects the state of the Las Vegas economy.

One thing’s likely: With 100,000 people expected to apply for the 12,000 CityCenter jobs, there will be plenty of U-Hauls leaving town as the unsuccessful applicants learn the bad news.

Discussion: 13 comments so far…

By davidwayneosedach

1/14/09 at 4:46 p.m.

Suggest removal

Boy are they going to in for a surprise when they encounter Las Vegas' 10% unemployment.

These people are not reading the Las Vegas Sun!
By annienonymouse

1/14/09 at 6:57 p.m.

Suggest removal

Turn around folks!!! Ya'll don't know what you're in for!!!
By synabar

1/14/09 at 8:11 p.m.

Suggest removal

The incoming people from other states obviously haven't the first clue about securing a job in this town - unless you're a nurse or radiologist. And while local unemployment hovers around the 10% mark, anyone thinking that they're going to "up" and move out in search of a better life and/or opportunity is in for a true, rude awakening. For those that are in denial about any of this and still think that he/she will move out here and get a job - "You better know someone that can make decisions in a hiring process". If you don't, it's guaranteed you'll be heading back to wherever you came from.
This valley has over 100,000 people out of work - the majority of those have long time Las Vegas experience. Do what you want though. It's always funny to see U-Hauls roll into town, only to see them roll right out of town about a month later (which is usually when people's sustainable income dries out).
By KillerB

1/14/09 at 8:18 p.m.

Suggest removal

Seems to say people who can afford movers are coming and people who have to move themselves are leaving.
By johnevegas

1/15/09 at 4:46 a.m.

Suggest removal

Never in my life have I lived in a place which is so conducive to the entrepreneurial spirit. I would encourage anyone who is so inclined to move here. Especially someone who is looking to establish a company that is complimentary to our travel business or businesses that run on the Internet.

And, though this may be a little harsh for some, stop looking for jobs! Go make your own way with your own talents. Do the scariest idea in your head. Take one step towards your dream, and you will be rewarded 100 times over. Doors will open where you least expect them to. Stop "working" and follow your bliss!
By tvegas

1/15/09 at 5:13 p.m.

Suggest removal

Unless you plan on starting your own business...don't unhook the uhaul.
By joey9

1/15/09 at 7:21 p.m.

Suggest removal

Do not move here unless you have a job or enough money to last 1 year.
By Northsider

1/16/09 at 6:24 a.m.

Suggest removal

12,000 employees . Yeah right.
By Windy

1/16/09 at 6:54 a.m.

Suggest removal

12,000 employees and how do they intend to pay them with the economy the way it is right now? They will be laying off as fast as they are hiring, you mark my words. I am a Las Vegas native & never have I seen the businesses this slow here. It's scary.
By discosis

1/16/09 at 10:16 a.m.

Suggest removal

It's the wrong time to hire more police officers. It's not just more cops' salaries to pay, it'll require new jails and prisons to house the influx of the accused, more prosecutors, more public defenders, more child welfare workers, more support staff all the way around, etc. Not in this economy.
By fremmasmind

1/16/09 at 5:26 p.m.

Suggest removal

I hope half of the citizens moving in to Vegas are members of I.C.E. We need to get rid of the illegals here to create job openings for unemployed citizens.
By Johnny_in_Vegas

1/21/09 at 12:29 p.m.

Suggest removal

I moved to Vegas in 94. Instantly fell in love with the area. Being able to see mountain views in about every direction I looked always made me smile. The natives I met and became good friends with are some of the best people, I've come to know in my life. Buying my first home here only made sense, being sure this would be part of my life for the rest of it. However the shady side of this town has shown me such ugliness that I am now homeless, and wondering if I even can stay in the place I have come to love so much.

While owning my home I was confronted with the need to help my HOA. Within no time I became president and discovered a scheme where our property manager worked with 2 local contractors to steal the money awarded my HOA in a construction defect lawsuit. The last numbers I was able to produce showed that we had been taken for $350,000 easily. This was done through several means but mainly through no-bid contracts.

New management was hired and only pretended to help. I had to find out laws and procedures on my own. I wrote letters to Governor Gibbons, Mayor Goodman, the States Attorneys office and others. At the end of the day the effort I put in was stopped by the lawyers that work for the state ombudsman office, our property manager and by the states attorney. They simply refused to help. For my efforts I ended up getting very sick and losing my home and being threatened and attacked by the current board.

If I am able to stay, I will NEVER buy in an HOA again as it seems there is no protection against the companies that seem to have a right to steal from them. The authorities just look the other way while their friends get richer. I would be willing to bet their friends will keep this from being posted, if so I know I'll be leaving my beloved valley for a place where laws protect the people and goodness and justice prevails.