Every time you turn on the news there are reports of more companies laying people off, and it's not just dotcoms. Originally from Dublin, McCrimmon lives in San Jose, just south of San Francisco. Seventeen months later, Jackie and her 25 colleagues in the division were let go. While its main business is still viable, the InfoCenter, like many e-ventures, failed to generate enough business. Four months on, McCrimmon's anxiety is deepening, as she cannot find an opening in her field.
Recruitment agencies offer no consolation.
The worst hit have been those employed on the production side of ebusinesses, such as encoders, web designers, project managers and support technicians. With her skill base devalued, McCrimmon is faced with the challenge of translating her experience into other media. I attended a job fair recently. The organisers expected about 2,500 jobseekers to turn up - over 5,000 people showed. It was worse than the Christmas sales.