re: If you have kids starting to search for college/career... what is left worth pursuing?

Whatever he chooses, tell him to stay as close to the actual content and the money as he can.

For example - in O&G, the people who always have jobs available are the ones closest to the barrel (producing company management positions with technical responsibility) or to the money (accountants). The further you are, the more risk you assume. In a downturn, service providers are hit hard, and their suppliers are always hit worse.