I see some of this happening in my company already and if/when things recover, I highly doubt they'll be hiring anyone back to replace the positions they eliminated. One thing this recession has done is prove to companies like mine that they can get the work done with less people if they cram it down our throats. What's the incentive for them to hire anyone extra if the work is getting done with a skeleton crew? None. They'll pocket the extra cash and keep busting our backs. That's the new American working sector.. might as well get used to it.