PS you sound like a nice person and good friend

- day trader (maybe dangerous but limited hours, from home, and finance-related)
- plumber (would need training)
- x-ray tech (lots of jobs here I've heard)

I just moved to a new town out of area and saw an add for "rent a husband" (carry heavy things, assemble furniture, put in high lightbulbs etc). No idea how much work that provides or whether your friend needs a job that provides insurance, but coming up with a service to offer might be a start.

I have a friend with depression who does short-term coding projects. He can work remotely so he moved to a mountain town and has a low COL with beautiful surroundings. He has been able to stay focused because of the deadline-driven nature of the work. He doesn't make alot, but he doesn't need to. There are lots of coding training programs online.

Federal government must have some sort of program he could look into. I do know there is an extensive program for people with mental disabilities. Doing things like picking up recycling, dealing with mail, etc. in our agency.

A furniture picker? Can he find crappy furniture off Craigslist, fix it, and sell it for a profit?

What about maintenance for a large apartment building, a large condo association, a retirement facility? The kind of place that would pay good benefits, but value someone who knows enough about construction to know if carpet is being laid correctly, fix a leaky toilet without needing to phone a plumber, might want someone who is available in the evening or weekends and be less focused on whether they are on site at 9:00 am, etc.

I think it's always helpful for people to think about what/when they did their best work, not to focus on what/when they were the least happy. You might ask him to reframe this thought process, just because it will make it easier to see what and where he'd enjoy working, rather than having clarity about where he might really be unhappy working.

Costco?

Insurance adjuster?

Is he medicated for depression and under the care of a doctor? It matters in terms of what employment options might be best.

installer for cable company

UPS driver? Mail carrier?

Cable guy?

Safeway and other grocery stores hires the mentally disabled

Home Depot or Lowes -- big buildings, lots of air and light and chance to go outdoors, lots of people. Oh wait -- that's where I want to work when I retire too!

Handyman? Working for a furniture assembly service (Ikea etc)?

I know this is a long shot, but I'm trying to brainstorm for a friend. He's in his late 30's, suffers from depression but can hold a job throughout this. He doesn't do well with a typical 9-5, can't sit in a cubicle all day. He's been running a small carpentry business with his friend but it isn't doing well and it's more of a physical strain than his body can handle.
He went to school for finance but only stayed in the field a couple years.
I know I'm giving very little information here, and it seems like I'm looking for a miracle. I just want so bad to help him think of some ideas, but there's no solid experience or leads I can think of.