PAGE 2 OF 9 Bohlen manages close to 1,800 full-time IT employees and 800 IT subcontractors throughout Textron's various divisions, and he has nearly doubled the corporate IT group to 25. Textron's IT plans are similar to those of many established companies, especially in manufacturing, that are turning to technology to stay ahead of the economic slump. Although Brady has no IT openings, the department is bustling with new initiatives. The story is the same elsewhere.
Most firms still plan the same increase in hiring as last year.
And no matter what happens to the economy, certain jobs, like IT and communications design, will be relatively exempt from any hiring slowdown.