The economy is still struggling. True. Everyone and the dog is ranting about jobs and hiring. True. Aah, but wait - can manufacturing provide an economic boost or is it just a drag and burden on the economy? If the numbers tell the truth, manufacturing has been a job killer for years and years. What else would you expect from a mature economy? After all, the USA already manufactures the best planes, trains, and automobiles right. When you are on top like that, there is nowhere else to go but down before going up again.

Ask GM about the up and down seesaw thingee. They know it oh too well...and guess what, it wasn't until the massive multi-billion dollar auto industry bailout under Obama until GM actually started to do silly things like...hire employees, make a profit and well manufacture quality cars again. Of course, we can, also, thank the Japanese automakers for putting pressure on the Big Three to step it up a notch. Competition is a huge incentive to efficiency in a capitalist society. No argument there but really, besides better automobiles what else is there to manufacture that isn't already being done -- and done well. Hummh, maybe trains? There is a thought. Not only would manufacturing mass transit commuter trains be a huge step in the right direction, doing so would create jobs (lots of jobs), lower energy consumption and dependency and better people’s health. Ever been to LA? Try breathing in the extremely poor air due to the ridiculously high levels of smog.

Once more, LA incidentally was slated for a mass transit bullet train connecting to San Francisco. What happened to that project? How many jobs with that create? Consider what happen if similar projects got off the ground within other metropolitan areas. So is manufacturing a boost or economic burden? Well that depends on the approach. Speaking of which, what's the plan?

Who doesn't like fun in the sun right? Well maybe it's time to resolve, for the New Year, to head east for sunny South Carolina in search of new job opportunities. Manufacturing is amongst the leading industries for the state and the trend is expected to continue for the New Year. Tourism is, also, big in the Grand Strand area which incidentally is looking up for 2012. Granted, we aren't talking about 100,000 new jobs to the area, but hey every job counts these days. Besides, you only need one job anyway, unless of course you're married, in which case the extra spousal income would really be helpful.

In the Grand Strand area, an above average wage is in the $15 - $20 dollar range. With wages in that range, it's a little hard to purchase a home without the extra spousal income. For those that are married and both can find work in the area, there are some really great real estate deals right about now. The local real estate market is slumped and not looking to make any significant surge during 2012. That's good news for new home buyers. Not so good news for preexisting homeowners. Oh well, that's how it goes sometimes. In any event, for the adventurous job seeker, looking to make a move, manufacturing jobs are heading east to sunny SC. This is in addition to a strong tourism industry already. That translates into job opportunities, priced to sell real estate, and fun in the sun. Sounds like a good time, to me, for investing in that beach bungalow. What else is there...are you on your way yet?

At the end of the day a job is a job right? Maybe - maybe not. It depends on the goal - short range or long term career goal? Considering how long many Americans have been out of work, maybe it's a good idea to focus on long term job growthand career stability - you think? Well if you concur, than maybe we should be investing in the service sector instead of manufacturing. Manufacturing what manufacturing? Obama's economic council head, Immelt, from GE wants a dog and pony show around the manufacturing industry. Ok, granted for many decades the manufacturing sector has been a key indicator of economic growth and stability. In my humble opinion that just simply isn't the case anymore.

Perhaps the new "go to guy" or should i say "go to indicator" for economic growth and stability should be the service sector. WTF - what is this guy smoking right? Here's why, ask yourself - just what exactly is there left to manufacture? We already have some of the most advanced materials and supplies already apart of the manufacturing component of the GDP. So when products become a commodity what do you do? Turn to service to bring home the bacon. Hello! Service sells -- and for service to sell people are required, which means jobs and plenty of them. Ask Starbucks - who the hell pays nearly $5 for a frappuccino 1/3 of which (or more) is ice. Well apparently quite a few people do, which is why Starbucks is making money hand over fist. It's not the drink people are buying it's mostly the service. Service sells. Is Starbucks producing any new products? Nope not really. They are merely taking existing manufactured products and re-packaging them with an emphasis on the service. Again, products are a commodity people. Focus on service and that is what sells. From emphasis on service of products to pure service based solutions that's where the large economic growth can be found. So who do you turn to for focus on service business investment and growth - none other than small businesses. Large corps are typically better at manufacturing products but small business excel at service. So if we are looking for long range job growth and stability look to no further than to the service sector to make it happen.