Despite the newscasters telling us that it isn't as bad as everywhere else up here, we too are feeling the economic crunch ( in Canada ). I've been self employed as a cabinetmaker for 20 years, the last 12 of which I was conscripted by a very large houseboat manufacturing firm.
The firm closed about two months ago, officially. Dragged their heels about doing so while all of us hung on for dear life for 6 months before that. Over this last 8 months I've sort of been shell shocked. I was so used to just having the work handed to me that I almost forgot that without that, I need to look for it. It was the looking that got me worried, very little going on and for every contract available, we've got 3 times as many trying to get it.
So finally, I kicked myself in the butt and jumped outside the box. I found and applied for a kitchen sales/design position with a firm in the next town over and, I start tuesday. Whew.
So I guess there is work out there, you may have to consider a few new avenues but hey, it just might be kind of interesting. I wish you the best of luck!