JACKSON, WY - Eric Henderson is one of hundreds of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort employees who live just 20 minutes away from their job. He knows the economy is rough, but not for him.

"I think because there is so much continuity being in Jackson Hole that people are still coming and still skiing and they still want to go out with instructors and guides," says JHMR's Eric Henderson.

He works as a ski instructor and an Alpine Guide, and he rather play in the snow everyday and get paid for it than be stuck behind a desk.

"It's a dangerous occupation there's no questioning that, but it is really fulfilling," says Henderson.

Resort employers hired a different crowd this year than they normally do.

At a job fair last Fall, they had 300 domestic applications compared to hundreds of international job seekers.

"In years past the tradition recently has been that we've actually done some recruiting from South American countries and traveled to Brazil and Chile and Argentina in order to fill some of those jobs an this year there simply wasn't the need there was enough domestic interest for us to be able to fill the jobs locally," says JHMR's communication manager Zahan Billimoria

This year they only hired about ten people from outside the country compared to 50 last year.

"We have seen some people off of Wall Street who now load lift chairs and couldn't be happier about it, because they are certainly living on narrower means but are enjoying this incredible part of the country," says Billimoria.

As far Eric, he plans on hitting the slopes in Jackson everyday, forever.

"I think I am a lifer seasonal worker at Jackson Hole and at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, based on those certain things just that people keep coming back and sense of adventure and the community around me," says Henderson.