Due to the permanent gains in worker productivity a firm will likely require fewer employees to support an additional unit of revenue growth than it had in the past.

FORBES: What H-P's Layoff Announcement Says About Future Job Growth

Just last week the White House said it was considering a task force proposal to allow the estimated 3 million Mexicans living illegally in the United States to achieve permanent legal residence through a guest-worker program.

CNN: Wallace

At this point, IT managers say, the return on investment is rapidly diminishing: Even a sizable bonus can't compete with the permanent pay raise a year-2000 worker can get by jumping ship at this late hour.

CNN: Managers turn away from retention bonuses for Y2K