It's going to get worse.
In my industry, jobs are paying 20-30% (or more) less than what they were 2 years ago in my area.
That is assuming you can find a company that is actually hiring.
In 08 I made about 65K.
I can't even find a job paying 35K in the area right now. Companies are very leery of hiring.
In my area you would be considered lucky. The best you can find where I am is part time jobs paying barely over minimum wage, thats it.
I said screw it and started another company buying gold and silver. I am still keeping business open on my first business but its so friggin slow employees agree to work on "standby". In other words I call them if something comes in. But at least with my new business I have had great success, it just doesnt have the capacity to hire people for they are not needed, at least at this point. The gold and silver gig's ROI was beating my ROI on the markets so I shifted my capitol to go full time in precious metals and I have been very pleased.
Despite the fact I am doing well, there is no way for me to look at my local market and find a place to create jobs. Its not a matter of fear of the unknown like I have heard some pundits talk about, its simply not there. I see ways for a business to function and survive but no real profitability.
I have a friend that works in marketing for a local newspaper. She tells me that every time their sales people go out they come back in with fewer sales for ads than before. A huge factor she says is that more are going out of business every day and the ones that were buying before are looking at shutting down altogether. They cannot afford to advertise when there is no revenue.
Its really sad.