European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 9, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Electronics Industry emerging Tom a slump by Andrew Pollack now York times Hen tandem computers inc. Held an open House recently Lor prospective employees 3.000 people applied Tor jobs. We had Plople waiting in the rain Tor one hour to get in our doors recalled Gregory j. Dougherty director of human resources Lor he fast growing company in California s Silicon Valley South of san Francisco. Out of those applicants. Dougherty said the company might hire so. Hoi too far away sea Gate technology a maker of disk drives for personal computers offered its employees a $1,00x1 Reward if they could recruit someone Wilh expertise in Trie specially of programming in microcode a Type of instructions embedded into Silicon chips these two scenes illustrate the currant employment Outlook Lor the electronics Industry in the United Stales Many people Are seeking the few available jobs in the general Market yet for certain skills there seems to be a shortage of people and ample Job opportunities. The electronic Industry formerly one of America s Vaslea growing sources of employment is new emerging 1mm a slump that has lasted two years. Technology issues have been rising on the Stock Market and Many companies Are experiencing increased sales and profits. This bodes Well or hiring. According to Many experts however the recovery and the employment Outlook a spotty. White some companies Are achieving rapid growth the Industry As a whole is expanding Only modestly. Indeed some say the electronics Industry May never return to its Boom times of a few years ago. The electronics Industry including the computer Industry is entering a new mature phase said Deborah Thresher head of economic forecasting for gnostic concepts an electronics Market research firm in san Mateo Cash. It s getting Large and As industries gel larger they grow at a slower  gnostic estimates that total shipment of american made electronics equipment Wib grow 7.5 percent mis year compared with 6 percent growth in 1986. The last two years have not been Good ones for employment in the electronics Industry. H Santa Clara county die heart of Silicon Valley _. My Thum Hou despite Industry slump people who graduate with Good Ratett la computer of Deco its find e  some 21,800 jobs in the Industry have been lost since 1934, a Corri no to the California employment development department. Nationwide electrical engineering graduates in 1986 received 36 percent ewer Job offers than their counterparts did in 1985, according to Iho College placement Council. Many factors worked to bring this about. Economic growth was sluggish the computer Boom of years past faded japanese Competition and even some from Korea and Taiwan became stronger. Jobs were moved offshore to Cut labor costs. Growth in defense spending moderated because of budget pressures and the explosion of the space shuttle challenger brought the space program to a standstill. Moreover hugs mergers in the technology Industry such As Burroughs corp s merger with Sperry and general electric s Purchase of Ria Pul people out of work. Even the slump in Oil prices Hurt because the Oil companies traditionally have been among the biggest purchasers of computer and commune Malioris equipment som of these Nocton Are a Lull in effect and should depress hiring in the  Industry this year. The Job Market for instance wit have to absorb employees leaving the two largest employers in the Industry the International business machines corp. And the american Telephone and Telegraph co. At to which has had trouble breaking into the computer business announced late last year that 32,000 jobs would be eliminated by the end of 1987. Ism which has a voluntary retirement incentive plan in effect to Cut costs and boost sagging profits Hopes to reduce its . Work Force by 12,000 in 1987 following a reduction of 5,000 in 1986. Despite the general Outlook there Are pockets of strength and even of robust  sem conductor Industry which makes the Silicon chips inside computers is seeing signs d a increase in demand the California employment department estimates thai employment in Silicon Valley electronics companies will grow by 2,000 jobs in 1987. Following two years of decline. Many companies that Are leaders in their respective segments of the Industry Are growing rapidly. The personal computer Industry is expecting great growth spurred by a new generation of More powerful computers from both Apple computer inc. And ism. The business of Selling computer work stations for engineers is also healthy. Dish drive companies Are benefiting Iron growth in both those areas. Some other companies Are also growing Well and hiring. In got Recruiter working 60 or 70-hour weeks said James 0. Holley employment manager at Amdahl corp., based in Sunnyvale calif., which makes Large computers. Amdahl which is having a spurt of growth will double its sales Lorce end us Overall hiring this year. Companies that Are hiring Lay they have Many More applicants than they need Tor certain Job men As administrative ones but have trouble finding specialists in certain areas. Software engineers and systems analysts with advanced degrees As oppo us to Low level computer programmers seem always to be in demand. Even ism despite its employment reduction intends to hire 3,000 new people this year mainly software designers and engineers. Those with expertise in communications software such As for data networks Are in demand. Also mentioned As categories in demand Are engineers with expertise in analog circuit design and magnetic recording technology. Eft a Bombeck this column is no about mothers or the Day set aside for them it is about the children who bestowed the title on them. I be been writing about these Little people for Over 20 years and for the first time i m frightened for them. I m concerned for the children being exp filed molested battered abandoned and fingerprinted. The faces of those who have been snatched from their Homos Are circulated on milk Cartons. Some have been outfitted with beepers and monitored and tracked like an endangered species. Others have entered the world shaking and screaming from the pain of a Mother s addiction. They have been passed Back and Forth in courts like a summons. With name tags they travel on airlines Between parents some with More flying mites than the Pope. They work microwave ovens and Vars and watch More to than a critic. They walk around in children s bodies that House adult decisions and responsibilities for younger siblings. They deserve Betler. It s Lime potential parents realized children Are not a Youthful mistake. An indiscretion. A Hobby. A religious duly. A custodial trophy. In ego trip. On acquisition. Or a race to be won against a biological clock. They re human beings who carry with them monumental responsibilities. Parenting is like he Domestic peace corps. The hours Are Long the work is hard. The pay is zip. Babies smell. They throw up. They cry when you re asleep and sleep when you re awake. They get sick and can t tall you what is wrong they Are to Latfy dependent upon you for food housing and care. They screw up. They lie. They drive you crazy. They Pul tension in a Home and a marriage. They Are capable of testing your endurance to the limits and ripping a path through your emotions like a Tornado ii you punish them and Leli them they Are the worst thing  Ever happened to you two seconds later they will still grab you around your Knees for Comfort because you re All they be go. What do you gel Lor taking on the most awesome Job in the world Burnt least crumbs in bed today. A Bunch of Flowers from your own Yard. Maybe a phone Call. A Bondol love i canno begin to describe someone said our civilization is judged on How we Ireal our children and our elderly two vulnerable groups who Are at the mercy of those who Are charged to take care of them. Do we listen to them Teke care of them preserve their dignity give and ask nothing in return protect their rights giving birth is til lie More than a set of muscular contractions granting passage of a child from the uterus. Then the Mother is born. Page 16 the stars and stripes saturday May 9,1987