Best jobs for the long run

Job: Operations and production management

President Bush's push to have the nation reduce its gas consumption by 20 percent in 10 years (and, by extension, increase its consumption of corn-based ethanol and other alternative fuels) has meant more money for biofuel makers and an even greater need for talent in the growing field, said Michael Jones, president of the bioenergy practice at the Richmond Group, a recruiting firm member of the MRINetwork.

There's demand not only for chemical and mechanical engineers, but liberal arts grads, too, Jones said. Some jobs require those with an engineering degree from college because of their technical nature. But someone with a liberal arts degree can start at a lower position in the company (e.g., a job that pays by the hour operating equipment in a chemical processing environment) and rise up through the ranks.

"Several large clients are concerned about succession planning. The work force is aging," Jones said. That will create a lot of opportunities for newcomers to the field. "Anyone with strong leadership skills who is knowledgeable about process can succeed," he noted.

To learn more about working in biofuels, two good resources are: Greenjobs.com and Greenenergyjobs.com.

Pay: To start, $10-$15 an hour if you have no experience or related degree; as manager five years on, $65,000 to $85,000 a year in rural areas