September-October 2003

You have probably heard the gloomy labor statistics: the U.S. economy has been losing jobs for several months, including 44,000 in July alone. But keep in mind that this is just the net loss: it doesn't mean that nobody was hired.

More detailed statistics are harder to come by, but they do exist. In May of 2003, the most recent month for which the information is available, over four million job openings were filled in the United States, including over half a million in "Professional and Business Services," and nearly 70,000 in "Information," as classified by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These two categories probably include most of the jobs done by members of the Berkeley STC chapter. So there are opportunities out there. We just need to find them and take advantage of them.

As I said in my last President's Letter, the Berkeley STC chapter wants to help our members find employers and clients. The chapter leaders hope to research what fields and companies are likely to need new employees or consultants, and provide our members with some of the things that will make them stand out from the (large) crowd of competitors for these jobs and consulting opportunities.

And we want you to help us in turn. Is your company hiring? Do you have knowledge of a particular industry? Are you willing to do some research for your fellow members? Are there new skills you want to add to your resume, skills that you could hone in service of the chapter? If so, please contact me or one of the other chapter officers listed on the Berkeley STC chapter Web site.

Let's work together to make our chapter members successful!

See you at the September 10, 2003 meeting!

Joe Devney
President