I live in Ionia Michigan, known as a prison town, there are 6 or 7, about 35,000 inmates, and were alot of cushy job's to go with them. People my GF went to school with, it was their dream to go out of highschool and go work at the prison, it was like a shortcut to success basically.
Then the economy turned, prison's closed, thing's were privatized, farmed out... In short, there are a ton of people my age (35) in and around Ionia, with no real marketable skills, used to making 40-55k a year with amazing benefits, up a creek now. I've purchased two more homes since I moved to the area, both from former guards who had the city take their homes. Let me let that sink in. Their homes were paid for, free and clear. They got hit so hard they couldn't afford the simple taxes, (and these aren't mansions lol).
I tell you that story to tell you this. I agree wholeheartedly with the people telling to get a trade, or a useful degree, (video game design at the local CC is not useful). It takes longer, it's harder, but it pays with security in the end. Michigan is full of former GM employee's, etc, who just can't hack it now. That's why we've lost so much population. Don't look for that cushy, secure job, find something you're good at, whatever it may be, and pursue that. Plumber, HVAC, Electrician are all outside the manufacturing sector, but still skilled trades. Where I work now, there's a tool and die apprentice who started here as a kid sorting part's. He has a good attitude, and since he's young, they were willing to make him an apprentice. Someone my age, other people my age see as a threat, I couldn't get an apprenticeship in most fields nearly as easily as you can, simply due to my age.
But, patience pay's. Most of all. It won't come quick, but it will come.