Dave,

There is tons of work here in NJ too. On the down side,, there are lots of people doing side jobs that electrical people should be doing. There are off duty policeman, fireman, postal people, or a neighbor, friend, cousin, etc. who is willing to do electrical work for someone they know. The only people who lose out are the homeowners who use these unskilled people. I have seen where people use these "fly-by-nights" and then when there is a problem, they can't find "their friend" who helped them. Then they have to go out and hire a qualified electrical person to fix what the other guy screwed up. Usually it cost just as much (If not more) than what it would have cost if the EC did the work from the very begining. I have been in the electrical trade for 25 years now and I have see them all come and go. When times are good, everyone is doing the construction work. When times get bad onlt the good guys will remain. The tough times weed out the bad guys. Our trade is not a real eas trade. (Although plumbers used to always kid me about that.) We did not have to carry heavy tubs etc. However it takes a little more knowledge to figure out circuitry, the NEC, and how to trouble shoot electrical circuits. ( Please plumbers don't e-mail me. Some of my bestfriends are plumbers. [Linked Image])