There is no doubt about it, it is a hard time to be an American, even one with formerly marketable skills. The recession which hit in the beginning of December of 2007 is still just as strong as ever, despite the whole nation's hope for change. Plants in cities all over the country have shut down; their transfer conveyors are silent, their parking lots empty. It's not a whole lot better in corporate American either, where salaries and opportunities are also being cut.

California is one of the hardest hits states during this recession, and that is bad news for many who make their homes in a Santa Ana zip code. In order to afford to live, you of course need a job. But what are the odds of finding one in these hard economic times? What kinds of jobs are even out there? If you don't have the means to own your own business, then who can you turn to for employment?

The numbers say that in Santa Ana at least, your chances in the job market really depend on what kind of skills you can bring to the table. At the low end of the spectrum are the usual assortment of retail and service jobs; car washes, cashiers, and so on. Unfortunately, these jobs are filled to capacity right now, and no one is hiring. In fact, many foreign workers who used to install industrial valves and do other sorts of trades work have migrated to these positions, having found they could not support themselves at their former careers.

The recession has hit men the hardest, with the unemployment numbers in Santa Ana reflecting those of the country at large. Both immigrants and native born men are unemployed at a rate of just over ten percent. Of course if you are an immigrant, those numbers are probably better than reality, as many will not report themselves in any way to official surveys for fear of becoming the target of a deportation campaign headed by a zealous Santa Ana or Mississauga lawyer. Women fare a bit better; those born in the United States report an unemployment rate of just over 8%.

In Santa Ana, the hardest hit work force has been those with carpentry, masonry, and other building experience. Where there used to be a booming day labor market, there are now line ups outside of shops which do online post card printing and other work for cheap. In fact, the situation has become so bad that these people lined up looking for day jobs are locked in a battle with the city over whether or not they have the right to look for work on public streets.

If you lack skills or if construction is your chosen career, you should look for work somewhere other than Santa Ana. It' s just not a good time for the economy of the city right now.