Business News: Where the Jobs Are

It seems like every day another major company announces a new round of job cuts.

So is there any chance of finding employment in these tough economic times?

Allan Chernoff reports that the future might be brighter than it appears.

MARIA TESSINARI CHANGED CAREERS TO BECOME A NURSE, KNOWING THAT IN HER NEW PROFESSION SHE'D BE MARKETABLE NO MATTER HOW BAD THE ECONOMY.

I knew that I would graduate and have a job and all the friends that I graduated nursing school with all have jobs.

..EVEN DURING THE WORST RECESSION IN DECADES!

HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONS ADDED 34-THOUSAND POSITIONS LAST MONTH WHILE THE ECONOMY WAS LOSING MORE THAN HALF-A-MILLION JOBS...AN IMPORTANT REASON MORE AMERICANS ARE FOLLOWING MARIA'S EXAMPLE.

Columbia has a program specifically designed for career changers and we've seen seen that program become more competitive every year this year there was a huge increase. In November over November applications they were up 50%.

TO MEET DEMAND FOR NURSING EDUCATION, COLUMBIA IS HIRING INSTRUCTORS. MANY OTHER UNIVERSITIES ARE HIRING IN SPITE OF THE RECESSION...BECAUSE IN TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES MANY PEOPLE GO BACK TO SCHOOL TO BOOST THEIR SKILLS.

IN FACT, SOME FOR-PROFIT SCHOOLS, ARE THRIVING!

THE STOCK OF EDUCATION COMPANY, APOLLO GROUP, HAS CLIMBED 60% IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS....WHILE THE DOW INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE WAS PLUMMETING!

BEYOND EDUCATION, OTHER FIELDS ARE STILL SEEING JOB GROWTH-- COMPUTER SYSTEMS DESIGN...MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY CONSULTING...OIL AND GAS DRILLING....AND LOGGING!

ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL ANALYSIS ALSO REMAINS IN DEMAND.

It will almost create more opportunity in the analysis, budget, and forecasting area when times are tougher because people are watching every dollar that much closely so there's certainly opportunity that does get created.

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN, NEW YORK.