I hope you are right, and the rank-and-file find suitable opportunities. I'm a rank-and-file who just got a job after 8 months of being laid off during this recession and before 9/11.
In my corporate era, I used Andersen Consulting. They were imposed upon me. They were of a culture which looked down on us in-house staff/manager types.
For the rank-and-file to easily get jobs, they will need a degree of down to earth professionalism, in demeanor and technical knowledge. On the other hand, if they come across with an air of superiority, I wouldn't hire them.
Most audit staffers will leave without making manager or partner, for good positions inside the firms they have audited. I'll bet they are actively searching, as Andersen is forced to cut back, due to declining workload.