[Nadia]

I have two jobs currently and am also obtaining a diploma for medical transcription, eventually I would like to become a pharmacist. I have a good portion of my undergraduate studies done, but decided to take a break and get working in the field a bit to see if that's what I really want to do for a career.

I work as a chef in a local restaurant, and although we do a great business and are continually getting busier and busier, this can be directly attributed to it being a new business and developing it's own niche in the community, and it's own personal clientele. Having been in the food service industry for the past 13 years, I did see a large decline in business overall. Not only in our own business, but talking with other business owners. When money is tight I personally believe, or almost have to believe from what I experienced that the first thing they cut down on is eating out. It is an unnecessary expense. Should the business I currently work for have been open for let's say ten years, I would theorize they may have seen a slight decrease in business as well.

As a Pharmacy Technician I see that this field is growing more and more every day. I'd say anything to do with medical care and pharmaceutical's is experiencing a consistent amount of growth regularly. The baby boomers especially have access to much better medical care and have regular routine testing at specified intervals, which ensure's regular profits in this area for all involved. The developments of more and more medications to treat various diseases and conditions ensures profits as well. Going on my own notion I would say that the condition of the economy and the great deal of stress it has put on American's has definately sent more and more people running to the Doctor with stress, anxiety, sleep, and depression issues just to name a few, and physical manifestations of these illnesses like heart attacks, high blood pressure etc.

The medical field definately has to be growing and prospering considering the statistics I was recently viewing regarding the outrageous demand for medical transcriptionists. There are more jobs for these people then there are people that can fill them. The demand for medical transcriptionists is also projected to increase 14% in the next year according to a study done by the Department of Labor.

My husband is a self employed contractor as well as my father. He has experienced a large increase in the amount of work being offered to him. Instead of buying a new cabinet set for example, he will come in and do various things like re-finish them, change the color, move them around, do some routing work, add some finish pieces, change the knobs, hinges and handles, and give them a complete do-over, instead of actually replacing the cabinets. This can save the customers lots of money, and still make them happy without spending oodles of money. In this economy people seem to be fixing things or refurnishing things in their home instead of buying costly replacements.

Just my two cents! Great thread by the way!!