Professional Workers Attracted By North Dakota’s Oil Boom
However, he has now decided that he enjoys the town and the steady work that seems to be coming his way. When not at his desk, Christopher explores the town’s biking tracks and pleasant local cafes. “Unlike other parts of North Dakota, this town is growing,” he says, “and the increased need for homes and school buildings is bringing in construction and design expertise from all parts of the country.”
In turn, Bismarck itself is prospering by attracting highly paid professionals into the area, who are spending money to maintain their standard of living.
Kevin Hullet, president of the local Chamber of Commerce, remarked that the North Dakota oil boom attracts professionals, and the expansion of available professional services operating in the town was noticeable over the previous year or more. In particular, he had observed an increase in the number of businesses that serve the oil companies and their interests, such as engineers, accountants, lawyers and architects.
A new insurance and employment lawyer, Amanda Peterson, works for Vogel Law Firm and together with her husband has recently moved back to the Bismarck area.
“It is a town big enough that we can both pursue our careers here,” said Amanda, who came from Stanley originally. “We like the fact that there are big town opportunities happening here, without Bismarck losing its small town warmth. We have family close by, and have always wanted to stay in North Dakota”.
One of the town’s engineers, Charles Hankins, moved to Bismarck in 2009 to join the firm Kadrmas, Lee and Jackson. He explained that KL&J were one of the few companies hiring at a time when most others were having to downsize and turn employees away. His research on local prosperity drew him to Bismarck as a town that was doing well. As a designer of airports and their infrastructure, Hankins had seen the developing oil companies create a boom in places like Bismarck.
“The oil industry needs supporting landing strips and airports as more traffic begins to flow. Recontruction and upgrading of facilities is creating a lot more work in this sector of the industry.”
Like others, Hankins says that Bismarck is likely to become his permanent home, and he cannot see himself being able to replace his job in any other location.
As the disposable income for the average resident in Bismarck increases, due to the influx of professional workers, the commercial sector is reaping an economic benefit.
Restaurants, car yards and stores are seeing a rise in business as the population swells.
A licensed architect can command a salary of over 60K, says Jeff Hysjulien, manager of JLG Architects in Bismarck, and even a junior accountant will earn around 40K per year, according to Michael Schmitz of the firm Widmer Roel PC.
The increased spending around town has in turn brought in a variety of new businesses, a surge in real estate sales, and more community events. Russell Staiger is president of the Bismarck-Mandan Development Association, and very satisfied with the town’s new productivity. “It is not just work that keeps the employed living here,” he says, “We have a lot of recreation and entertainment to offer our locals after they clock off for the day too.”
The thriving real estate market is a strong indicator of community confidence. “The incoming professionals and their families are deciding to purchase property here rather than rent a home,” said Kathy Feist, who owns Bianco Realty. “This has the effect of moving prices in the higher end of the market,” she said, “and all property values have lifted as a result.”
The mayor of Bismarck, John Warford, said that the incoming professional workers had the specific effect of spreading the tax base so that residents actually experienced a drop in property tax costs.
“There is a new trend in Bismarck,” continued Mayor Warford, “Until recently, most of our younger generation would relocate to other centres to find work. Now they are able to stay since the job market here is so bouyant. People who have left are even returning and taking a closer look at what Bismarck has to offer.”
Widmer Roel PC hired a new accountant, Pao-Yueh “Claudia” Schollmeyer, from out of town towards the end of November, but she and her husband looked for a suitable home in Bismarck before making the move. Schollmeyer said that a progressive education system and neighborhood safety were the draw-cards for choosing to settle in Bismarck, along with her new job.
Mayor Warford sums it up well. “Bismarck has the jobs, the culture, the housing, health care services, education and the recreation resources to attract the right sort of people,” he said, “I believe our town has it all.”
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