"TOKYO (Reuters) - While the world pursues the knowledge economy, employers are increasingly desperate for plumbers, welders and other technical staff, U.S. employment services firm Manpower Inc said on Tuesday, in its annual survey of staff shortages.

...the survey of nearly 43,000 employers in 32 countries found the rising lament almost everywhere was for trades people and similar skilled, but not necessarily highly educated, positions."

http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUST30198120080421

Along with "Green" technologies, we believe service industry jobs will play a major role in the future of the U.S. economy. Everybody needs but can't easily outsource trades people like plumbers, electricians or carpenters. You can't outsource certain kinds of skilled creatives either. Like wedding photographers. Somebody has to be there at the wedding and they need to be professional to get the job done right.

 Who Hires During A Recession?

Apparently:

Bankruptcy Lawfirms, consumer debt councilors, conservation consultants, green energy supplier, private security firms, pawn shops, electronics recyclers, religious institutions, business lawyers, mechanics, accountants, mortuaries, alcohol producers, SEO, teachers...

No oil companies? 

Heath care work isn't going away anytime soon either. From nursing homes, to home care providers to nurses, to insurance companies, the demand for health services and companies in only growing.

"NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Demand for new homes may not return to normal levels until next decade, according to the latest outlook from the National Association of Home Builders."

Cream rises to the top and it's only a matter of time before wages in India for the best workers are equivalent to wages in other parts of the industrialized world. In some fields, this has already occurred and foreign workers, contractors and consultants now take home the same pay as Americans.

The world is flat and getting flatter still.

BBC News - India's wages surge but risks multiply