<p>FWIW, if you read up on RI’s biotech industry, they’re dying for qualified people and have a hard time hiring them. The RI unemployment is an issue because there are a lack of unskilled and low-skilled labor, but the higher skilled labor market is very strong in some fields. Additionally, we draw on Boston and NYC, but of course, most of our population is mobile.</p>
<p>What I will say is this-- Providence has led me to opportunities I wouldn’t find elsewhere because it’s the largest city in the state and also the capital and it has all of the problems of any major city (including highly concentrated poverty and a large immigrant community) and Brown is THE major player around. It’s very easy to become a HUGE fish in a very small pond in Providence and Brown students can float around in some very high-level offices and be a big part of decision-making. That kind of access doesn’t really exist in NYC or even Boston, and it was a huge part of me choosing to stick around for a fifth-year to study urban education policy here. It has led me to a ton of connections and probably a few potential jobs.</p>
<p>So I do think location matters, but how much depends on lots of other things.</p>