Oldsailor, this is not an appropriate place to start a disagreement about what is or is not proper to do on the Sabbath. My husband and I do not agree with you, and that is not your business.

Depends on the vocation. I was SE as a real estate investor. Big checks, but spread out over too far of a period of time was stressful. I have online sites to bring in money, a home inspection business, and a construction business. I'm a GC. I understand the hassles with getting an electrical license. Major $$$

My husband really doesn't have the temperament to be self-employed. He has done side jobs and auto body work for friends and relatives through the years but to be self-employed full time doesn't work for him.

An electrician shouldn't be unemployed too long but a geographical move may be required if an entire local economy dies like what is happening in a few states like Michigan. As long as people use electricity, there will be a demand for electricians. However if large employers in a given area close down, everyone in that area is going to be impacted and that is what is happening in Michigan.

If your husband is a member of a union they should be able to find him work in other states if he is willing to relocate.

Shane, we are anti-labor union. Relocating is an option, but we won't consider it unless/until all other options for staying here fail. Our daughter found a job on Craigslist near her where he could earn $50-$71 per hour, but it's second shift, so there would be Sabbath issues. Plus, we really don't want to leave our home here. Husband has done a lot of work on the house, until it suits us to a T, and even though when we first came here, the thought of living in MY grandparents' house and NOT keeping HIS family farm when his parents died was unacceptable to him, he's now reached the point where he is willing to sell his family farm to keep our home.

Would he consider changing the exact kind of electrical work he does? Perhaps looking for work in a plant or security/fire alarm. Maybe working in a maintenance department of a shopping mall or school? A lot of colleges have electricians on their payroll. Some school districts do too.

I'm just saying, when the Lord provides us with a job, and we refuse to do it on Sabbath, we are dishonoring and disrespecting the Lord. But anybody who knows enough about electricity to calculate I=E/R, is smart enough to figure that out for themselves.

He probably will look for something else if he can't find enough work in construction.

I wouldn't advise him to let his electrical license go. My point is that electricians are also needed in maintenance - not just construction.

Oh no, God forbid! He would NEVER let his license go! That test was HARD, and he doesn't EVER want to have to take it again. I think even if he retired, he'd still keep renewing his license every year, just in case.

That's a very big part of the reason he doesn't want to move to the state our kids live in. He would have to take THEIR test, and that state is so restricted and regulated, it would probably be even harder than Michigan's.