Crystal Whitacre, Pacific Northwest regional manager for Management Solutions Inc., oversees the recruitment of a variety of professionals and executives, including information technology engineers, accountants and financial experts. Nevertheless, she has found that the region enjoys a certain high-tech cachet. If you're interested in high tech or an Internet start-up, the Pacific Northwest is the place to be. Jimmy LaValley, US West's executive director for hiring for the telephone company's 14-state region, said Portland is one of the most popular spots to work. Job applicants are more resistant to Seattle, Phoenix, Denver and Minneapolis, even though the latter three boast lower median home prices, he said.
Housing markets are tough everywhere.
US West offers competitive compensation packages, but, as yet, no housing subsidies. Information technology competitors in California sometimes woo top-level applicants with promises to help with down payments or mortgage payments, LaValley said. Signs of relief Pressures on the likes of US West to address housing costs may be easing, at least in Portland. Where median sale prices grew by more than 9 percent annually through much of the 1990s, they increased by 4.6 percent in 1998. This year, they are expected to level off still more.