yea it started in 2001 and got worse after 911... companies especially, took advantage of the Bush era by reducing the workforce and getting rid of a lot of higher paying employees this increased their profit margin but as we were also being shafted by the housing and stock market no one took notice what they were doing until the sh-t hit the fan.

Attrition was and is still a tool use by big business.... get rid of the fat and increase profits. Everybody in the work force is trembling in their shoes not knowing from one day to the next if they will have a job tomorrow.