Job market for Engineer and RN in the Boston area (credit, house)

[AMPL]

We would really like to move to the Boston area, as soon as possible, from San Francisco area in CA. We know already which cities we would like to live in, but with the wobbling economy we are a little concerned if this is the right time to move. Our plan was to sell our house in CA (currently in the process), move to MA and then find jobs in MA- we consider selling our house as a bigger issue than finding jobs. J
Is there anyone out there that has an insight in the engineering and nursing job marked in the Boston area right now? -We would greatly appreciate if someone has input on the following:
How easy/hard is it to find jobs in this region when you are in the civil/structural engineering -and nursing profession? Maybe compared to CA? – In CA, despite a much bigger economical pinch than MA, it is still relatively easy.
MA has a much more educated population than CA- does it mean it is harder to find jobs than in CA?
We originate from Denmark in Europe where we obtained our educations – how open are employers to employees with educations from foreign schools? (though international accredited). CA employers are kind of used to employees with educations from almost everywhere.
We are looking forward to hear from you.
Thanks!

[brightdoglover]

I don't know about engineering (although overall I think there are lots of jobs that require technical education). As for RNs, there are plenty of jobs. If your wife can work ICU or other critical care areas, she can write her own ticket, hours, and so on. Aside from floor staff jobs, I don't know- there are so many overeducated people in the area, for instance, a lot of master's-prepared nurse practicioners- I don't know if there is a wide market for that kind of work.
Hospitals in this area went into downsizing (and yes, RN layoffs) in the 1990s, and then consolidation. Even the big downtown hospitals went through this (MGH, Brigham) and the big actor on the state is Partners, the umbrella organization over Brigham, MGH, Dana Farber, and many other hospitals of some kind of affiliation. Partners is big, rich and fat, and secure in the financial environment. Some jobs are union, some are not.
(I work in a non-union *gasp I said the word 'union'* that is under Partners- psychiatric job.) I think in a volatile environment, it's good to work for someone old, fat, and big (not to mention venerable for the resume).
Massachusetts has the lowest CEU requirements for RNs in the entire country, including Mississippi and Louisiana. Not sure why that is, with all the colleges and overeducated people.
Good luck in your move.