The growth in the computer software industry for example, means a secretary, warehouse shipper or accountant would likely have a better chance of finding work at such a company than finding work in the mining or government sectors. Knowing about the growth of industries can also help in predicting which jobs will offer the best long-term prospects. Although all industries hire workers in finance, clerical, sales and administrative occupations, computer software firms hire mostly computer specialists and environmental protection companies hire mostly scientists and technicians. Almost all the growth industries in the new economy are technologically based. Information and technology typify new-economy industries, so knowledge workers, such as medical technologists, materials scientists, broadcast engineers and paralegals, will be in demand.
Disruption exists even in parts of the economy that have good prospects.
Despite the growth of new economy firms, there have been layoffs at such firms as Northern Telecom and Xerox Canada. Knowledge workers are now more likely than in past years to lose the jobs they have, but it is generally agreed that knowledge workers have a better chance than workers in many other sectors of the economy of finding new jobs.