La Estrella reported recently:

The companies who will be building the expansion of the Panama Canal are about to kick of a recruitment drive to hire the necessary workforce. The project is expected to generate literally thousands of all different types of jobs. Specifically the “Grupo Unidos por el Canal” (Group United For The Canal) is one of the international consortiums involved in the project, and they have an open call for 7,000 workers. The different companies, working together with the Ministry of Labor, will organize and execute job fairs in Panamá, Chepo, Penonomé, Colón, Los Santos, Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí, Veraguas and La Chorrera to find and hire the employees they need.

Comment from my friend Don Winner at the Panama Guide: Some people say the expansion of the Panama Canal will have a “cost” of more than $5.25 billion dollars. I prefer to think that the government and these companies will “spend” that much money to get it done. Almost all of that money will be going right back into the Panamanian economy in one way or the other. That “booming” sound you hear is the economy. 2010 is going to be good, 2011 will be better. Those dumb asses in Washington should come down here and take some notes. Right on Don!!