[PatrioticAmerican]

No doubt these numbers are low as people have rolled off th dole. I live in Highlands Ranch (Denver), capital of the out of work computer geeks. 65 Percent of people in HR work in the tech sector. Most have changed careers and many homes have foreclosed. I have heard foreclosure rates of 3.5-7 percent and a county number that says 23 percent of all homes are at least one month behind in mortgage payments, and 7 percent are at least two months behind. Banks are providing new financing to keep people in their homes as a high foreclosure rate kills banks.

Many geeks have been out of work for at least six months and around 25 percent at least a year. Those long term unemployed have taken on new jobs in other sectors but are making 1/3 to 1/2 of what they were, and I'm not talking the six figure incomes. Many that made $60-80K are now happy to have $40K. Last year, I did a large project and got high end developers for $50K, and they were real happy to have the jobs. One guy just took a $40K job, and he's 42 with 20 years experience.

We seriously need to review the H1-B program and the offshore developments.

[Moonman62]

We seriously need to review the H1-B program and the offshore developments.

Fighting for a fixed or shrinking number of jobs isn't going to help much. What we need is economic growth to create new companies and new jobs. It's too bad we can't count on a Republican president to help out in that regard.

[Starwind]

I have heard foreclosure rates of 3.5-7 percent and a county number that says 23 percent of all homes are at least one month behind in mortgage payments, and 7 percent are at least two months behind. Banks are providing new financing to keep people in their homes as a high foreclosure rate kills banks.

What does that financing look like?

Many of my friends have lost jobs, homes, marriages are dissolving...children are being hurt.

[clamper1797]

Hate to tell ya brother ... but the capital of laid off high tech workers is firmly in Silly-con Valley. The real estimated unemployment of these workers was put at over 33% by the Merk News back before Dec. The merky News and Channel 7 KGO reported that the number of area home mortgages at least one month in arears was 42%. I have at least a dozen high tech friends who are out of work. No jobs to be had ... not even at Micky D's for these people. 90%+ of the high tech jobs listed on the job boards are bogus and/or are H1B bait. A couple of my friends have already lost their house and a couple have moved to other locations in the USA. However, Silly-Valley is STILL knee-deep with "guest" invaders workers .... go figure

[Billy_bob_bob]

"We seriously need to review the H1-B program and the offshore developments."

Why? They are doing EXACTLY what they were intended to do, which is to drive down our wages and our standard of living. If you are opposed to that, then you are an ignorant racist, nativist and protectionist, and you will end up being labeled as a "hatemonger". Now shut up and get back to work. Don't you know that Americans are not allowed to speak up for their own interests? Do you WANT to be labeled as a "hatemonger"?

[Republican Party Reptile]

PatrioticAmerican sez ...

"Many that made $60-80K are now happy to have $40K. Last year, I did a large project and got high end developers for $50K, and they were real happy to have the jobs. One guy just took a $40K job, and he's 42 with 20 years experience. We seriously need to review the H1-B program and the offshore developments.

So ... did you had any influence on the rate paid to developers on the proejct? And if you did, and if you think the pay scale is presently unfairly depressed, why didn't you pay them 60K to 80K instead of paying them only 50K or 40K for a guy with 20 years of exp?

Has the availability of larger pool of highly skilled workers at a lower rate been helpful to your project?

It;s a bit vertigo inducing to hear you complaining about H1Bs drivng down market rate when at the same time you also actively participate in taking advantage of the lower market rate to offer more attractive bid on projects with lower development cost and get talent for what less than what you think they are worth.

[freeper12]

>>Many that made $60-80K are now happy to have $40K. Last year, I did a large project and got high end developers for $50K, and they were real happy to have the jobs. One guy just took a $40K job, and he's 42 with 20 years experience.

I retired last year (Jan'02), but was a contract developer for years...one guy that I worked with (he worked for same client, but not for me), was told that if he wanted to stay on, he would need to take a 50% cut in his rate, which he did (after mild-complaining and seeing no other options around)...3 months later they told him if he wanted to stay around he needed to take ANOTHER 50% rate cut...he is still there, doing the same thing, but get only 25% of what he was making less than 2 years ago...man that sucks.