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Silicon Valley Unemployed Turn From Tech

With jobs in short supply, many shift to health care, energy

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 31, 2009 8:45 AM CDT
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(Newser) – After holding its own against the economic tide, the tech industry is hurting—and many jobless in Silicon Valley are heading to other sectors, the Wall Street Journal reports. One group that helps job-seekers grew to capacity this year, from 180 to 225 members, with 450 on the waiting list; some 80% of members worked in tech, and a third of them are looking for work outside the industry, says a group leader.

Silicon Valley’s jobless rate was below California’s average last year, sticking close to the national average. In June, however, it surged to 11.8%, compared to California’s rate of 11.6% and a national rate of 9.7%. Clean energy and health care are popular destinations for the job-seekers. “I'm looking at this as an opportunity to look at other fields,” says a laid-off worker.

Computer chips are seen on display at Micro Center in Santa Clara, Calif., Wednesday, May 13, 2009.
Computer chips are seen on display at Micro Center in Santa Clara, Calif., Wednesday, May 13, 2009.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
In this 2007 file photo, Hewlett-Packard Co. CEO Mark Hurd speaks during a conference in San Francisco.
In this 2007 file photo, Hewlett-Packard Co. CEO Mark Hurd speaks during a conference in San Francisco.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, file)
In this Jan. 9 file photo, Emilie Barta with Intel demonstrates on a Lenovo netbook at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
In this Jan. 9 file photo, Emilie Barta with Intel demonstrates on a Lenovo netbook at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, file)
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Silicon Valley • unemployment • tech industry • second career • jobless

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