The U.S. presidential candidates promise job creation, but the question remains where the jobs might be created, a private research group said.

Without knowing which programs or budget items pass in the halls of Congress, it is impossible to predict which campaign promises come to fruition. However, we can at least get an idea of where opportunities could exist when the new president takes over the White House, said John Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a Chicago outplacement consultancy.

By analyzing the candidates' campaign promises thus far, Challenger, Gray & Christmas said job creation in manufacturing, education, alternative energy, construction, civil engineering and telecommunications would fare better under a Barack Obama administration.

Jobs creation in the oil and gas, nuclear science and engineering, insurance, automotive and aerospace and defense industries would likely be encouraged by a John McCain administration, the report said.

Construction jobs would also fare well with McCain in charge, owing to his pledge to build 45 new nuclear power plants, the report said.

In the construction sector, Obama has pledged $60 billion over the 10 years for the country's infrastructure, Challenger, Gray & Christmas said. (c) UPI