I'm surprised no one has said it yet, but trade careers are booming, if you are good and can get your foot in the door. Automotive, Hair, Tattoo, Construction, Plumbing, etc. These are also jobs that do not base hiring so much on your education, but your experience. Don't get me wrong education is important, but right now I am getting way more out of the shop I am working at vs. what CSCC is teaching. It amazes me how some people in my classes are passing, why should they get a better job than someone who is a better tech just b/c they have a piece of paper? Most owners understand that Pre-Calc is not going to help you diagnose a car, or repair a pipe etc, and these are services that people need. Hair and tattoos not so much, but lets face it people still pay into these services even if the economy sucks.
We are booked out at least a week to a week and a half with 2-3 days of tow ins per week. We cannot keep up hardly, the only time we seem to catch up is when it snows and we can get to the tow-ins a little sooner since the appointments re-schedule. I usually work 3 full time techs working almost 7-6 with our boss that picks up the quick diag., quick repair when we are really behind.
People keep talking about when plumbers swing by and charge $200+ to repair what some people would call a small repair.