When he returned from his economy-boosting trip to Asia, President Obama underscored what economists have been saying for some time.

An important element in America's recovery from the Great Recession is boosting international trade. With the dollar weak — it's weakening daily — and American goods cheap when compared to items made in other countries, port cities that thrive on international trade stand a good chance of quickly emerging from the downturn. Urban areas don't have that luxury.

In Alabama, that equates to strong news for Mobile and Mobile County.

According to a recent forecast from Moody's Economy.com, Mobile will have the 13th fastest job growth, percentage-wise, of the nation's metro areas during the first quarter of 2010. International trade and ThyssenKrupp AG steel will lead the way, Moody's said.

Keep in mind the big picture. More than 233,000 Alabama jobs have disappeared in the last two years. The projected growth for Mobile County will hardly replace that bloated statistic, but it does point the state in the right direction.

Mobile County is not alone in projected job growth. Huntsville, with its technological base and ties to federal grants, is expected to see more jobs open up. Its population of educated, high-paid, white-collar workers is rising steeply. The same is true for college towns like Auburn and Tuscaloosa.

Unfortunately, the rest of the state will not do so well.

It may take Alabama as many as four years to return to pre-recession employment levels, according to another forecast made by HIS Global Insight. Factories are still closing in many parts of the state. While Mobile's forecast is bright, the New Era Cap Company in nearby Jackson has announced it will cease operations in early 2010, putting more than 300 out of work. Optimistic projections will be cold comfort to these workers.

To combat these problems, state economic-development agencies should increase their work with schools — especially community colleges — to train employees for growing industries and guide the employable to available jobs.

At the same time, county and city leaders should examine why jobs are being created in some regions and not in others. Whenever possible, areas of low job growth should try to replicate what is happening in more successful parts of the state — or, at the least, help residents take advantage of nearby job opportunities.

Though it seems today that all news is bad news, this bright forecast for some parts of Alabama might work to the advantage of others.