The Feds move towards more efficient defense operations means someone isn't going to get paid. Despite the stiff defense budget cuts Boeing is still flying high. Still innovating. Still visionary. And still hiring. At least shuffling people around to make sure people keep their jobs. Boeing's superior position in aviation has earned them the reputation among everyday American flyers, "If it ain't Boeing, I ain't going." That's a great reputation indeed but it doesn't stop there. Boeing, up until Obama's announcement, just the other day, produced B-52 bombers and tanks out of plant in Wichita. Now, wave bye bye to that plant. It is no more.

Like most companies, Boeing could have used the Defense Department's budget cuts as an excuse to get rid of jobs and sweeten the pot for the big bosses. Nope, not Boeing. Instead, Boeing decided to move some people around from the Wichita, KS plant to the Oklahoma City, OK location. On top of many workers keeping their jobs, the move to Oklahoma City will undoubtedly be a huge boost to the local economy there. Soon to be, Oklahoma City residents, employed by Boeing, have been spotted talking to realtors for new home purchases.

For those of you that don't know, this kind of cash influx typically has a trickle-down effect, in that additional service jobs are created. Think about it, the house sitter, dog sitter, landscaping and gardening, house cleaning, HVAC service, and so and so on. Moreover, young workers can fill some of these offspring jobs, which is a good thing considering young workers (under the age 30) are the hardest hit by the current economic situation. So needless to say young workers and the local Oklahoma City community altogether is glad to know Boeing is still flying high even in the face of Defense budget cuts. Bravo. Bravo. Well done Boeing.

From the looks of things there is a glimmer of hope that the housing market is poised for a turnaround which suggests that jobs are looking up as well. Since you kinda sorta need a job to buy a house, the idea is that homebuyers must be gainfully employed if they're willing to sign on the dotted line for a 30 year mortgage. While that logic is sound, [at least somewhat] it doesn't, exactly, explain what's causing the increase in employed versus unemployed. Which industries are hiring? What's prompting hiring by such industries? Is the hiring seasonal, permanent or temporary?

In the absence of hard data, it's a little hard to get on the jobs jobs jobs bandwagon. At least one explanation for the what appears to be a housing market rebound is that some buyers aren't sitting on the sidelines waiting for a "green light." With the gross number of foreclosures, across the country, there are plenty of deals out there. In some cases, with a marginal downpayment one can literally walk into an equity situation. With a deal like that, it's a little hard for either a potential homebuyer or bank to walk away, waiting on a guarantee. If the economics of the past represent a guarantee, than that is a thing of the past. Nowadays, with two incomes even if part-time waiting on full-time and a solid downpayment [from savings over years], it's not hard to persuade a bank to go along with selling one of several hundred foreclosed homes within the bank's portfolio. So while a housing market rebound could likely point to jobs and a stabilizing economy, it could also point to emotional buying decisions. The jury is still out.