JOBWIRE for the week of April 28, 2002

Bright Employment Forecast

California is poised to make an economic recovery reminiscent of the late '90s that will create remarkable job growth in the next eight years. That's the prediction of the Palo Alto Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy, which sees the high-tech sector leading the state out of recession starting in about six months. San Diego is forecast to see a 34 percent increase in jobs through 2010, followed by Sacramento at 29 percent, the Bay Area at 24 percent and Los Angeles at 21 percent. "Even though job and income gains have stalled during the past year, the state's fundamental strengths have not been hurt," said Stephen Levy, director of the center. "By the end of the year, we will not be talking about high unemployment."

On the Job Front

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA - Residents of Dublin, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Jose will soon wake up to a new place for their morning cup of joe. Peet's Coffee & Tea will open locations in each city by year's end . . . Safeway has announced plans for new stores in Fair Oaks, El Dorado Hills, and Lincoln.

FOLSOM - Sam's Club will open another of its warehouse stores in the spring of 2003, employing 200 workers.

GRIDLEY - Signature Fruit Company is closing its cannery in Butte County on May 31st, eliminating 800 seasonal jobs and 40 year-round positions. Operations for the peach processor will be based in Modesto.

HAYWARD - Lynx Therapeutics is reducing its 150-person staff by about 30 percent.

MOUNTAIN VIEW - Google needs a gaggle of new employees. The Internet search company has immediate openings for 100 people in all departments and is also on the hunt for more space in which to house them . . . Microsoft has reduced its TV-unit workforce by 10 percent, pulling the plug on 60 jobs.

OAKLAND - KTVU, the Bay Area Fox television affiliate, is both hiring and firing. The station recently reduced its administrative staff by 30, many of whom were part-time employees, and is currently looking to add 14 full-time positions to its editorial and sales staff.

NEWARK - Ross Stores will shift 800 jobs to Southern California to consolidate distribution operations.

PLEASANTON - Talbot's is opening another of its women's clothing stores in May, with a second Bay Area location in Emeryville to follow this fall. The store openings are part of the company's plan to debut 85 new outlets this year.

SAN JOSE - JDS Uniphase will cut 2000 more jobs. The firm makes fiber-optics for the telecom industry.

SAN FRANCISCO - Cable television station Tech TV is thinning its ranks for the second time since November, this time due to a lack of demand for breaking technology news. The latest cuts affect 50 staffers working on the station's "Tech Live" program . . . McKesson Corp, a wholesaler of drugs and medical supplies, has fired 100 employees mostly in its corporate headquarters here.

WOODLAND - Two supermarket chains are feeding off the city's continuing growth. Safeway will hire 150 when it reenters the market with a 55,000-square-foot store. Raley's, meanwhile, is adding a second location in July 2004.