husband might be laid off, need advise

Hi,

This isn't a real relationship question, but has to do with my husband, so hopefully someone can help.

Here's the story:
My husbands job has been pretty shitty lately. There is a lot of childish stuff going on and he works so hard and isn't very appreciated. The business is also probably going to go bankrupt or something, so everything is just going horribly.
Anyway, the other day his boss pulled him aside and kind of gave him a heads up that if one of either of the other co-workers gets the job, they will have to start laying someone off and he might be one of them. This really sucks because he works so hard and it's all based on what some people above him, who actually don't like him for whatever reason, had to say. His boss went to them to get feedback on how my husband is doing, not to his immediate supervisor.
This is a huge problem because there aren't any jobs in the cytotechnology field around here(Madison, wi), so his only options are getting a job that pays less than what he makes now or going back to school, which means more debt but a better paying job in the future.
Not only does this put us in a bit of a pickle but definitely doesn't help his self esteem. He feels pretty low, and no matter what I say to help him feel better, he still feels pretty low. He thinks he's such a disappointment to me, when he isn't. He knows that I want a house and he feels he can't provide that to us, which I know in time we will get one.
I know it's impossible to really know what to do unless you are in that field, just wish I knew what to say to help him. I have told him that he should start looking into either another job or school now, so if he does get laid off, he will at least have a backup plan. He says he will do it, but sometimes I think he won't because he feels so low about everything.

I guess I am just asking if anyone has been in similar situations? What more can I do? Help?

Thanks!