Obviously the want-ads issue was more figurative than literal, but in some industries the jobs are completely drying up. My wife works in Dental Hygiene, and last week there was one published opening in Central Massachusetts. Of course, a good 20+ new Hygienists will be graduating this spring…. Not a good time to be negotiating with your employer!

I’m also interested in the long term effects that all of this is having. Another company recently announced that instead of new replacement laptops every three years its now going to be 5 years. Looks good in an excel cell but how does it translate to employee satisfaction.

“The want-ads for these industries are empty; they’re lucky to have a job” Was this both litteral and figurative? It looks like the Tacboard IS going away

Management is *the* most undervalued skill in the workplace today – but it’s often forced upon many folks who all they want to do is take that next step, or protect what they have already.

Also, when layoffs come, it’s often the people who are “just” good managers who go. This then leaves people who are no longer managed as well as they used to be and has a ripple effect on morale and mapping objectives to people. It’s a vicious circle