Jackson Free Press

On the heels of yet another piece of bad economic news, here's a bit of brightness: Whether you're just starting out in your career or you're considering a change, take a look at the fitness industry. This is one industry expected to see a lot of growth in the coming years, reports The New York Times. Here's an excerpt:

What avid exerciser hasn't mused — while huffing and puffing toe-to-toe with a trainer, maybe, or hitting an endorphin peak during a run — about chucking the desk job and going into fitness full time? Counting those who do is hard, if not impossible, but some indications suggest that more people are mothballing their briefcases to enter a field that the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts will grow 27 percent from 2006 to 2016, as measured by the number of "fitness workers" (instructors, trainers and program directors).

Downturns in other sectors will increase those ranks, predicts Paul Garbarino, director of operations for the National Council on Strength and Fitness, which certifies personal trainers. Workers in a slow economy "tend to branch out for additional professional training," he said. "Some people make career changes; some just develop an additional skill set to keep in their back pocket."

Of course, working as a pilates instructor or personal fitness coach will probably not make you rich. But if you're doing what you're passionate about, does that matter? Read the entire story here.