So often as Clark is out and about, he's asked by people where the job opportunities are right now. Well, here's a word of advice for construction workers who may be out of work.

There's a new job boom coming with the retro-fitting of commercial and residential real estate to bring it up to new energy-efficiency standards. The boom is being fueled in part by some new tax credits in the stimulus package.

Meanwhile, USA TODAY reports that a number of states are now requiring energy-efficient retrofitting or imposing new green construction standards on all buildings. For example, Hawaii is just one state where solar water heaters will become the norm in all new construction.

In other career news, Clark is doing a temporary about-face when it comes to his enthusiasm for going to school to become a nurse.

Nursing has long been considered a certain bet in the career world. But new graduates are finding they have to compete against seasoned nurses. Many veterans are returning to the work force now that their husbands have been laid off. After all, it is men who have borne most of the brunt of the slowing economy when it comes to layoffs.

(Editor's note: This is precisely why these times are being jokingly called a "hecession" instead of a "recession").

Of course, the difficulties that nursing graduates are encountering in finding a job today will only be temporary. Life expectancy standards in our society continue marching on, and that means healthcare professionals will always be needed to care for an aging population.