Despite the Dow reaching 10,000 for the first time in a year, experts don't expect the milestone to reverberate across the larger economy.

"What we're seeing now is the emergence of two economies," says John Asimakopoulos, professor of sociology at Bronx Community College. "One is the financial sector, which is showing signs of life, and the other is everyday people, and that's not really changing for the better."

Experts say the medical field is one of the few sectors that has remained strong during the recession.