Where the Jobs Are

Even during economic downturns, there are often sectors with growth - and more often than not where you might not expect it. Every election may be local but every economy is not. They are instead regional (geographic, sectoral, political). Thus, although a national or even global economy may be showing signs of stress, there are likely regional economies that are not.

According to the US Dept. of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Nonfarm payroll employment declined by 159,000 in September, and the unemployment rate held at 6.1 percent... Employment continued to fall in construction, manufacturing, and retail trade, while mining and health care continued to add jobs." http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

In a cavern, in a canyon... No really... There is a global shortage of skilled miners. Don't believe it? Read on:

USA West Virginia South Africa Australia Canada

So again we come back to the skills gap and the issue of supply and demand. Thousands of jobs to be filled, very few willing to take them. Free market rules suggest that wages should rise to lure new workers to the mines. Place your bets here.