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Layoffs pick up in U.S. technology sectors
Company News (Yahoo) ^ | Tue Oct 5, 2004 05:48 PM ET | Emily Chasan

Posted on 10/06/2004 6:14:14 AM PDT by jb6

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To: hawkaw
What do you mean upward revision for last year? Do they revise for the entire last year in their October 2004 report?

That's correct, the U.S. fiscal year ends in Sept, the revision is for the full fiscal year, jusy as monthly figures are updated after the initial report, so is the annual report.

21 posted on 10/06/2004 11:39:17 AM PDT by Mister Baredog ((Part of the Reagan legacy is to re-elect G.W. Bush))
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To: jb6

bump


22 posted on 10/06/2004 11:43:39 AM PDT by VOA
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To: TXBSAFH
Numbers or not the IT field is still hurting. I have seen a mrked decrease in jobs out there and have more then a few friend either out of work or underemployed.

Would your solution be something other than allowing market forces to work?

The bursting of the high-tech bubble was a sad thing, it cost me a lot too.

Hang in there, the economy of the U.S. is growing at a healthy rate, things are improving. I hope your situation and your FRiends improves.

If we don't win the WOT it won't matter much anyway, 9/11 cost us 1 million jobs in 3 months. What would a nuke in LA or NY do?

23 posted on 10/06/2004 11:45:09 AM PDT by Mister Baredog ((Part of the Reagan legacy is to re-elect G.W. Bush))
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Comment #24 Removed by Moderator

To: sinkspur
EDS is in deep trouble because it priced its billion-dollar Navy contract below cost.

By the way...

That is a felony.

25 posted on 10/06/2004 11:49:25 AM PDT by Poohbah (If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room.)
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To: jb6

If the source wasn't Reuters, I might believe it.


26 posted on 10/06/2004 11:50:15 AM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts (Which Star Trek Capt. would you want for President? Picard or Kirk? In wartime, the choice is easy.)
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To: sinkspur
Did EDS deliberately price below cost, or did it just eff-up? I saw an article in the Financial Times (yesterday?) that suggested the latter.
27 posted on 10/06/2004 11:51:51 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: Mister Baredog

I am just telling you what I know and hear. FYI. Myself and freinds from other offices all in It meet at apub every 6 weeks or so and talk shop compare notes and network. This is where I hear alot of people worried about their jobs. It is a social occasion but the eyes are on the ball if you know what I mean.


28 posted on 10/06/2004 11:53:28 AM PDT by TXBSAFH (Member of 3rd Pajamahadeen Division, 2nd Boxer Shorts Brigade, 4th Bunny Slipper Battalion)
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To: 1rudeboy
Did EDS deliberately price below cost, or did it just eff-up?

The magnitude of the low-ball amount suggests the former.

BTW, EDS is refusing to execute certain contract line items unless the contract is renegotiated to cover the higher costs.

29 posted on 10/06/2004 11:53:54 AM PDT by Poohbah (If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room.)
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To: jb6
On the management side, I am seeing few and fewer companies with "in house" tech. Many owners and CEOs seem to be under the impression that tech is something they can "outsource" and pay for only as needed. On the smaller company side they find themselves frustrated by issues that used to be fixed quickly by their on staff guy that now take hours or days to get fixed. Personally, my small company (32 users on 26 computers with 4 servers) has had the following "technical" challenges in the last 24 hours:

1. Web Site needed product added to it. Only the tech guy knows how to do that.
2. User in the art department lost communication with shared laser printer. Tech guy fixed problem by rebooting computer.
3. User says computer is beeping at her and her screen has gone blank. Tech guy discovers that she accidentally kicked the power cord out of the wall. The beeping was her UPS going on battery power. The screen went blank when the battery died after 5 minutes. Problem fixed by plugging computer back in.
4. User claims to not be able to access the company database. Tech guy discovers that the user failed to enter their password when logging onto the network.

While these are simple problems, without a tech guy in the building they would have had to wait until their "computer guy" could come out and see them, which could have taken hours.

For icing on the cake, our tech guy receives phone calls from our customers (we are an imprinted t-shirt company, not a computer services company) on a regular basis asking for advice and help.

"What kind of laptop should I get?"
"What kind of printer should I get for my company?"
"Should I upgrade to XP?"
"Who should host my web site?"

Etc. Etc. Ad nauseum.

Seriously, as long as the majority of computer users expect their computers to be like their refrigerators, there will be tech jobs.

30 posted on 10/06/2004 12:13:34 PM PDT by Crusher138 (Support capitalism. Check out www.USAPoliTees.com)
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To: 1rudeboy

EDS effed up. But, the contract had few contingency clauses and unbelieveable project schedules. But EDS got tired of losing every federal bid to IBM and CSC, so it priced so close to the line there was no margin for error.


31 posted on 10/06/2004 12:22:40 PM PDT by sinkspur ("I exist in the fevered swamps of traditional arcana. "--Cardinal Fanfani)
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To: paulsy

"Also have an organizational awareness, know how to make things more efficient at lower cost. Know how get the most out of your existing product/service lines. Know where to innovate smartly, and where/why the pain threshold is for company investment toward this. Share. These things will keep you employed."

Very good. Yes indeed and agreed.


32 posted on 10/06/2004 12:38:51 PM PDT by quant5
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To: jb6

Does anyone really think that the market bubble was not accompanied by an employment bubble?

For God's sake, I know an MD, an ankle specialist! who dumped his practice in '99 in order to cash in on the great internet. Yes, he's back to the troublesome and tiring business of fixing athlete's ankles in order to pay for his mansion, trophy wife, and five cars.

Human nature, upon which the free market is based, has played out magnificently in these last five years. Anyone want to bitch about the internet? Then why are we beating ourselves up over hyped, unrealistic expectations?

Now, how you gonna make your fortune?


33 posted on 10/06/2004 12:40:15 PM PDT by nicollo
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