Are you kidding? Tens of millions of good employees have been dumped like yesterdays garbage. You clearly are not paying attention to current events or this article.
Sorry... I work in the generic drug manufacturing industry, which doesn't look like the rest of the economy just now. The company I work for really does promote good employees. In fact, the whole industry is kind of desperate for smart, hard-working people just now.
Pharmaceuticals are somewhat insulated from off-shoring by the US regulatory environment, and even as the rest of the economy goes south people are still getting older and needing their meds. So if you can get an opening in the pharmaceutical industry right now, you can do well.
Have a bachelor's if you want to get past the level of lead operator, and be able to show up on time and be willing to work regardless. Do these things, and pharma will put you to work.