Obtaining employment in the local area may prove to be
challenging for the majority of job seekers. The local area provides
limited professional job opportunities and salaries below the national
average.
The Family Support Center (visit "Contacts/Links" category)
offers professional career counselors to assist family members in navigating the
local job market and plan future career advancement. You may elect to contact
the Family Support Center prior to your arrival. The Family Support
Center operates a "Career Network" email distribution list with local employment
opportunities. The sooner you start your employment search the
better. The Family Support Center has started a program for military
spouses in starting their own internet business called Portable Career &
Virtual Assistant Training Program. Applicants are required to have a
strong desire for self-employment, have certain computer equipment, Internet
access, and as part of the application process, to write a 250 word
essay. The advantage of this the program is that when you move, you
move WITH your clients not without them.
Del Rio has a labor force of
16,764 with an unemployment rate of 11.4%. Industries providing
employment are: retail (13.9%), health and social services (11.5%),
manufacturing (10.8%) and education (9.9%).
Local major employers include
Laughlin AFB, other federal agencies, San Felipe Del Rio Independent School
District, Wal-Mart, Val Verde Regional Medical Center, and City of Del
Rio.
Overall the area offers the best employment opportunities for
educators, medical and service industry. Due to our geographic
location near Mexico, fluency in Spanish is a beneficial skill for all job
seekers.
Flexibility in hours, pay and types of work often decrease the
period of unemployment. The majority of job seekers can expect a
longer than average period of unemployment. The typical hourly wage
for a general office clerk is $5.25, an assembly line worker is $5.54, a
warehouse worker is $5.41, and a forklift operator is $5.90.
While
seeking employment, the Volunteer Resource Program can assist in maintaining and
building future skill sets through assessment and placement in the local
community.
For job hunting purposes, be sure to bring with you all
employment records and information, resumes, transcripts, licenses, SF-50,
etc. DO NOT PACK THESE WITH YOUR HOUSEHOLD GOOD SHIPMENT.