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  Press Release
For Immediate Release
9/8/05 		Contact: Roger Herman

Help Wanted: Opportunities for Evacuees

Hundreds of thousands of people were forced out of the areas of the Gulf Coast hit by Hurricane Katrina. They have moved away from danger into temporary security in shelters and private homes across the country. This experience has been an escape, not a move toward long-term security and stability.

A majority of the evacuees will be moving again in the not-too-distant future. They will move to communities where they can find jobs, get homes of their own, put their kids in school, and build a new life. A substantial number of the people who left the disaster area will not return to the place they called home. There are too many memories, too great a strain, and too few opportunities to start fresh.

Employment is the driving force. People will go where they can find work, where they will be appreciated because of the education, training, and experience they can bring to the job. Work is available in practically every city in the country, but the greatest need for competent workers is in those communities where unemployment is low.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of August 31, 2005, 119 cities in the United States have unemployment under 4.5 percent. Under 4.0 percent, 67. And the communities that need these ready-to-work citizens the most: 28 cities with unemployment under 3.5 percent. These are the prime cities for evacuee relocation, and those communities would probably welcome new workers and their families with open arms.

Here's the list of prime relocation areas for the thousands of dedicated workers looking for opportunities:

BestCities for Refugees

  1. Fargo, ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area
  2. Iowa City, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area
  3. Winchester, VA-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area
  4. Bismarck, ND Metropolitan Statistical Area
  5. Fort Walton Beach-Crestview-Destin, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
  6. Harrisonburg, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area
  7. Idaho Falls, ID Metropolitan Statistical Area
  8. Charlottesville, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area
  9. Rochester, MN Metropolitan Statistical Area
  10. Ames, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area
  11. Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metropolitan NECTA
  12. Gainesville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
  13. Sioux Falls, SD Metropolitan Statistical Area
  14. Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
  15. Madison, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area
  16. Portsmouth, NH-ME Metropolitan NECTA
  17. Billings, MT Metropolitan Statistical Area
  18. Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO Metropolitan Statistical Area
  19. Grand Forks, ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area
  20. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area
  21. Rochester-Dover, NH-ME Metropolitan NECTA
  22. Sarasota-Bradenton-Venice, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
  23. St. Cloud, MN Metropolitan Statistical Area
  24. Auburn-Opelika, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area
  25. Ithaca, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area
  26. Manchester, NH Metropolitan NECTA
  27. Rapid City, SD Metropolitan Statistical Area
  28. Casper, WY Metropolitan Statistical Area
  29. Huntsville, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area
  30. Panama City-Lynn Haven, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
  31. Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, ME Metropolitan NECTA
  32. Roanoke, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area
  33. Tallahassee, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
  34. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area
  35. Boise City-Nampa, ID Metropolitan Statistical Area
  36. Coeur d'Alene, ID Metropolitan Statistical Area
  37. Dothan, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area
  38. Morgantown, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area
  39. Barnstable Town, MA Metropolitan NECTA
  40. Des Moines, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area
  41. La Crosse, WI-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area
  42. Missoula, MT Metropolitan Statistical Area
  43. Naples-Marco Island, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
  44. Orlando, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
  45. Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
  46. Richmond, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area
  47. Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
  48. Dover, DE Metropolitan Statistical Area
  49. Lebanon, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area
  50. Lincoln, NE Metropolitan Statistical Area
  51. Midland, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area
  52. Punta Gorda, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
  53. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
  54. Tuscaloosa, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area
  55. Wausau, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area
  56. Amarillo, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area
  57. Birmingham-Hoover, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area
  58. Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area
  59. Columbia, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area
  60. Glens Falls, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area
  61. Great Falls, MT Metropolitan Statistical Area
  62. Ocala, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
  63. Ocean City, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area
  64. Reno-Sparks, NV Metropolitan Statistical Area
  65. St. George, UT Metropolitan Statistical Area
  66. Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area
  67. Cheyenne, WY Metropolitan Statistical Area
  68. College Station-Bryan, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area
  69. Dubuque, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area
  70. Lancaster, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area
  71. Logan, UT-ID Metropolitan Statistical Area
  72. Lynchburg, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area
  73. Napa, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
  74. Oklahoma City, OK Metropolitan Statistical Area
  75. Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
  76. Pocatello, ID Metropolitan Statistical Area
  77. Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
  78. Trenton-Ewing, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area
  79. Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area
  80. Appleton, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area
  81. Bloomington-Normal, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area
  82. Cedar Rapids, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area
  83. Eau Claire, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area
  84. Knoxville, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area
  85. Tulsa, OK Metropolitan Statistical Area
  86. Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC Metropolitan Statistical Area
  87. Abilene, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area
  88. Anniston-Oxford, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area
  89. Duluth, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area
  90. Green Bay, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area
  91. Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area
  92. Jacksonville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
  93. Oshkosh-Neenah, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area
  94. Pittsfield, MA Metropolitan NECTA
  95. Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area
  96. Prescott, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area
  97. San Angelo, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area
  98. Sheboygan, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area
  99. State College, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area
  100. Wenatchee, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area
  101. Austin-Round Rock, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area
  102. Danbury, CT Metropolitan NECTA
  103. Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area
  104. Kingston, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area
  105. Las Vegas-Paradise, NV Metropolitan Statistical Area
  106. Lawrence, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area
  107. Lubbock, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area
  108. Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area
  109. Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area
  110. Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area
  111. Springfield, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area
  112. Athens-Clarke County, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area
  113. Champaign-Urbana, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area
  114. Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area
  115. Fond du Lac, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area
  116. Fort Collins-Loveland, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area
  117. Gadsden, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area
  118. Lawton, OK Metropolitan Statistical Area
  119. San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area

SOURCE: U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 31, 2005 (not seasonally adjusted).

This forecast was prepared by Joyce Gioia (joy-yah) and Roger Herman, Workforce Futurists with The Herman Group in Greensboro, NC. 336-210-3547.

Note to Journalists: We have not contacted community leaders in each of the communities on this list. No doubt there are hundreds of stories behind this Big Picture. A few phone calls, and you will discover where employers are eager to recruit and housing is available. Another story not told here is how employers will reach evacuees to invite them to consider their communities. By Thursday afternoon, we expect to have information about outreach services to connect employers and evacuees. If you are interested in this developing aspect, send an e-mail to Roger Herman, roger@hermangroup.com and you will receive first notification.

The Herman Group is a firm of consulting futurists concentrating on workforce and workplace trends and their implications. Emphasis is placed on employee selection and retention as critical strategies. Included in the firm are researchers, professional speakers, authors, and consultants. The Herman Group is based in Greensboro, NC, with affiliates in Sao Paulo, Melbourne, Hong Kong, and Port Louis, Mauritius. Contact Joyce Gioia-Herman at 336-210-3548 or e-mail: joyce@hermangroup.com.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            


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