John Challenger Expansion Quotations

These ... factors are going to keep hiring from taking off in 2004. Job seekers certainly should not expect to see a repeat of the tremendous job expansion of the mid-to-late 1990s.

Even when the economy is fully recovered and companies are back in expansion mode, we may not see a revival in hiring of the rank-and-file worker. Cost containment oriented companies, in an effort to become more agile in this increasingly competitive global marketplace, will rely more an more on a just-in-time workforce of contract and contingent workers.

The market has very high expectations. The unrelenting search for profits is driving companies in an era when they can't raise prices and some of their potential for expansion overseas is being crimped.

The longer search times reflect additional risks in the job market. High energy prices may be slowing companies hiring plans and could result in the postponement of expansion programs.