(Unemployed Keely) Barrett knows she’s in the hottest industry in both Spokane and Kootenai counties: health care. In North Idaho, 14 of the top 20 “hot” jobs for the next six years are in health care, said Alivia Metts, the state’s Labor Department regional economist. “The picture is not bleak. It all depends on whether the job-seeker can match the skills the employer is looking for,” she said. Spokane County should also see continued growth in health care jobs, said Doug Tweedy, Washington state labor economist for Spokane. During 2013, the health care sector generated 1,200 new jobs, making it the sector with the fastest job growth in Spokane County/Tom Sowa, SR. More here. (Colin Mulvany's SR photo: Employment specialist Nancy Thorson explains WorkSource Spokane services to 50 unemployed workers during an orientation Dec. 31)

Question: Has your job outlook improved over the last year?