FROM THE editors September 15, 2003 Issue

Changing careers?

Unemployment is a serious business these days. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics the unemployment rate for July was 6.2 percent, representing more than nine million unemployed people. This figure doesn't even take into account those who have given up their search for employment or have taken lower-paying jobs than their education, skills, and experience qualify them for. And job hunting may call for a large investment of time. John A. Challenger of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, an outplacement firm, says US job seekers are taking an average of 20 weeks to find new positions. Not encouraging, to say the least—but these figures don't have to be accepted as a verdict of hopelessness by people who are currently under-or unemployed.

Certainly, prayers for the following are much needed:

• a healthier economy

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