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North Dakota has the second-lowest unemployment rate in the country, thanks to the continuing professional growth in a few of its cities. Living in or near one of them makes it easy to find a job quickly because employers face a shortage of qualified applicants. The state's low cost of living and high safety rankings make these jobs a boon to young professionals.

Fargo tops the list of North Dakota cities where young professionals can find work. Because of continuing expansion at North Dakota State University (NDSU), new companies are being drawn into town at an impressive rate. NDSU and its associated Research and Technology Park have expanded job opportunities for young people in many professional fields.

Microsoft located its second-largest campus in Fargo, as well. Young professionals in the computer field get snapped up as quickly as they arrive. With another large new building under construction in 2008, the number of available jobs increases almost daily.

Companies like Phoenix International and Alien Technology have not only located manufacturing plants in Fargo but also have research and development teams there. Such companies consistently require skilled professionals to fill positions on those teams.

That growth generates ripples in other local industries, as well. The need for engineers, architects, designers, and project managers has expanded as the building boom continues. A larger customer base equates to more jobs in health care, tax preparation, investments, and banking. All of those people need more insurance and real estate agents, too.

Add all of this to a downtown revitalization program and a commitment to sustainable development, and Fargo stands out as one of the best cities in which to invest yourself. Local arts, shopping, and dining venues have undergone a Renaissance of their own in the past 10 years and Fargo now offers cosmopolitan opportunities as well as employment.

Grand Forks not only includes another large university, the University of North Dakota (UND), but lies beside a US Air Force Base, providing a relatively captive pool of customers. UND's aerospace emphasis offers young professionals a different range of jobs from which to choose that those in Fargo. In addition, the two cities are about 75 miles apart, which means an easy commute in either direction along Interstate 29.

Just as NDSU offers the Research and Technology Park, UND has its own expanding job pool in the Energy and Environment Research Center. Again, the different emphasis means that professionals in many fields can find excellent jobs in Grand Forks.

North Dakota offers jobs in in all ranges of the skill and pay scales. Young professionals who seek jobs would do well to explore the many fields in which they will find employment there. Though the national economy is suffering, North Dakota continues to grow and build.

http://www.quintcareers. com/career_blog/2008/state-une mployment.html
http://www.jobsn d.com/
http://www.ndsuresearchp ark.com/
http://www.undeerc.org /

Learn more about this author, Mel Bergen.
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