Trick Outsourcing with a Plunger: How to Stay Employed Like Joe the Plumber

Without being too Tom Wolfe about it, the American economy is essentially hemorrhaging money, except unlike the 1980s, America is partially hemorrhaging money via outsourcing. College students are leaving school in debt to enter a hostile job market and are going defunct on their loans, but there are a few occupations which have been staying put in the U.S. for recent(or not so recent) grads to consider.

Yahoo! reports:

When outsourcing first began, most college students and recent grads weren't concerned with whether or not their chosen industry would remain based in the U.S. Today, many workers realize they have equally educated and skilled workers competing for the same jobs overseas. To become more competitive, many now choose a career path that is firmly planted on our home turf…

Here are nine jobs that are not likely to be shipped oceans away (source: U.S. Department of Labor):

Dental Assistant
It's tough to clean teeth from across the world. A career as a dental assistant usually begins with an associate's degree from an accredited college or university.

Pharmacy Technician
People take their health seriously -- that's why a certification as a pharmacy tech is not likely to be outsourced.

Fitness Professional
It's hard enough to be motivated in-person. Offshore encouragement won't cut it. A career in fitness can begin with a certificate program.

Teacher Aide
Teachers need live help to care for kids. An anonymous, off-site representative just won't cut it when it comes to educating our kids.

Auto Repair Technician
Most car troubles can't be repaired with simple, over-the-phone instructions. An auto tech studies anywhere from 6 months to 2 or more years, and will always have a steady stream of live customers.

Pet Groomer
Along the lines of a dog trainer, pet grooming just must be done in person. This is usually only a certificate program.

Plumber
This career depends fully on local workers -- plumbers definitely won't be phoning in from overseas to unclog your toilet.

Veterinary Assistant
A pet's health and happiness is of serious importance to most owners, and they won't be putting it in the hands of foreign workers. You can become a vet assistant by completing a certificate program.

Electrician
This highly technical and hands-on job simply can't be done any other way, except live and in-person.

I guess Joe the Plumber really did know what he was talking about.