The national unemployment rate may be at its worst in over a decade, but there's a world of opportunity out there beyond Wall Street. Some regions are holding up better than others--Montreal is proving to be a hot bed for the video game industry, while the UAE is fertile ground for the airline industry.

To aid in your quest for a steady paycheck that doesn't involve licking stamps or bagging groceries, Fast Company did some global groundwork. We talked to international headhunter Heidrick & Struggles, economists and career consultants to uncover innovative companies around the globe that are bucking the downturn and actively hiring. Here's a snapshot of who they are, what they have open and what they're looking for in prospective job candidates.

Nokia (Finland)

Mobile phone giant Nokia is a household name for good reason: The company expects to sell about 50 times as many phones as Apple this year. It recently released its first touchscreen phone, which offers a music subscription service. Nokia currently has about 200 different jobs available at various locations around the world.

What they're looking for: People to develop and deploy Internet based entertainment services such as music and games, social media apps, maps and navigation utilities, and communications services such as email, text messaging and instant messaging. While Nokia is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, they are also actively hiring in Berlin (for location based services), Bristol (for music services) and Montreal (for consumer messaging.) The phone maker plans on increasing its research and development operations in both Romania and India. A list of vacancies can be found on Nokia’s corporate website.

Qualifications: Nokia looks for candidates with domain and industry specific knowledge, particularly for positions related to the Internet based services described above. A background in social media, digital music or online gaming is particularly useful. If you have no prior professional experience, you still stand a chance: Nokia recruits people straight out of college.

Getting a visa: The company is open to helping accepted candidates apply for work visas. Apart from using in house HR professionals, Nokia also pays for external professionals to help negotiate the red tape. To learn more about obtaining a Finnish work visa, click here.

Word to the wise: The cell-phone market, like every other consumer electronics sector, is hurting. Nokia expects a drop of about 5 percent in the global mobile market in 2009.

Ubisoft (Canada)

Video game developer Ubisoft lays claim to such blockbuster titles as Assassin's Creed, Splinter Cell, Prince of Persia, and Far Cry. Although headquartered in Montreuil-sous-Bois, France, its Montreal office is where the action is. At 2000 people strong it's the biggest of Ubisoft's studios, laying claim to all of the games mentioned above. The clincher: the Montreal studio is actively expanding -- they plan on recruiting 1000 new employees by 2013.

What they're looking for: Due to expansion plans, the company is looking to recruit talented, passionate individuals across a variety of areas: animation, art, programming, as well as game and level design. For more information, check out Ubisoft's careers page.

Qualifications: Ubisoft primarily looks for creativity, technical skills, and problem solving skills. They prefer candidates who exhibit the ability to be team players, since developing, producing and publishing a game involves a high degree of collaboration. The interview process is rigorous: every artist and animator must have a demo to apply. Candidates may also have to take a technical test, and meet with (and impress) their potential team.

Getting a visa: Ubisoft's Montreal office has two specialists in the HR department who handle immigration, and, if accepted, the company will handle all necessary immigration and relocation procedures for you. You must have a Bachelor's degree, and a minimum of two years pertinent educational experience.

Word to the wise: While Montreal is the closest location to the US on our list -- both geographically and culturally -- it would be wise to take note of a few differences before you pack. For one thing, the weather isn't pretty; be prepared to bundle up against rain, snow and an average yearly temperature of 43 degrees Fahrenheit.