Like most countries, Canada is suffering through a miserable recession. The unemployment rate is hovering around 6.5%. 129,000 jobs were lost in January alone.

Finding a job in Canada has become more difficult than anyone in recent history can remember. Available jobs seem to have simply disappeared. Nevertheless, there is work to be found. The fact is, 80 percent of jobs are never advertised. The trick is knowing where to look.

Jobs in health care, education and construction have seen less of a downturn than other fields. Certain services remain essential regardless of the economy. Construction jobs have held their own due to government road and bridge-building projects. The site Job Banks Canada.com has a good listing of these jobs.

Search engines can be an extremely valuable tool in this job market. The engine ‘Eluta’ monitors job postings within companies which are not made known to the public. This is valuable information which can be put to very good use.

Companies may not be advertising, but they are keeping their eye on job boards. Job seekers need to post their resume on popular boards such as Workopolis, HotJobs, Working.com, and Jobshark. Joining a professional organization in the field of interest provides a great way to meet people in ones area of expertise and to make oneself known. Never underestimate the importance of networking. It can be an important tool in a job search in Canada.

If all else fails, packing up and moving may be the answer. While all other provinces are suffering, Saskatchewan has more jobs now than it did a year ago. The province has a strong economy, showing growth in most sectors. Saskatchewan’s capital, Regina, has an unemployment rate of 4.4 percent, which is fairly miraculous in this economy.

Another move to consider is Alberta. Alberta’s economy is still relatively good, with a higher per capita income than most other provinces. The years 2003 and 2004 witnessed an unusually high baby explosion in the providence, resulting in an unusually dire need for nannies. Parents in the cities of Calgary an Edmonton are actively seeking nannies. And with Alberta’s good per capita income, these parents can afford to pay their nannies well.

These are obviously hard times. However, with a little bit of creativity and lots of personal flexibility, the search for a job can have a happy ending.