Who's area has seen any progression in job availability.

I am in Detroit, and like you, I need to see tangible results for me to believe that something is happening. In this case, help wanted signs would be a great indicator. Yes, they are hiring people, and the manufacturing is picking up a little bit, but it appears that people are being very picky on hiring people. They claim that they cannot find people to work, while there are thousands, even millions of people, including myself, having a hard time finding work. Why don't these places train people to do the job. I don't play attention to the numbers games that analysis's and politicians like to play because they can cook those up. Is it actually cheaper to fire people and pay them unemployment rather than to keep them working?