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Jobs in Odessa, Texas, United States
Odessa is a city located in the US State of Texas. Odessa is the county seat of Ector county.
The city has a population of around 118,000 inhabitants, making it the 28th most populous city in the state.
Odessa is one of the fastest growing small cities in the US, according to Forbes magazine.
Boom Town
The city has gone through several population booms in the last century, each driven by the discovery of various oil fields.
The city is home to its own orchestra and several theaters – including a recreation of Shakespeare Globe Theater.
The city has a suburban fell, with homeownership at around 62% – the average rental price of the remaining housing stock is $945 per month, very slightly higher than the national average.
There is a wide variety of entertainments in the city – ice skating, bowling, several movie theaters, a go cart track and mini-gold course and a many restaurants, bars and clubs.
Crime is high however, and the city has the highest violent crime rate in the state.
Key Facts:
· Median Age: 31
· Median Household Income: $59,337
· Median Property Value: $115,300
· Poverty Rate: 12.1%
· Cost of Living: 2% lower than state average, 13% lower than national average
· Unemployment Rate: 3.5%
· Crime Rate: 46% higher than national average
Boom & Bust Industry
The city ‘s economy has long been connected to petroleum exploitation. Even today, the Oil Industry is the largest employer, with around 14% of all jobs in the city found in this industry.
Healthcare, at 10%, education at 8%, retail at 12% and food service at 10% are also big employers.
The city is attempting to diversify employment away from oil and gas to avoid the associated boom and bust economy. Part of this has been to promote logistics and distribution companies to take advantage of the city’s location on major road and rail links.