The Job Hunt: Obama's economic stimulus plan probably won't help me get a job

As one of the 10.3 million unemployed people in America, I'm having trouble getting on board with the $775 billion stimulus plan that President-elect Barack Obama is proposing to Congress to help stimulate the economy and get people back to work soon.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, as Obama has called it, would add 3 million jobs over the next two years and is a good start, but somewhat shortsighted. Spending billions immediately on public works projects and infrastructure such as renovating roads, bridges and schools is a good way to get some people employed again, but it won't meet the long-term employment needs of the nation once those roads, bridges and schools are finished.

And while I and many other former white-collar workers aren't averse to picking up a shovel, it doesn't look like his plan for "shovel ready" construction projects has much job help for people outside the construction trade.