 telecom industry slashed 300,000 jobs during the troubled period beginning in late 2000. As recently as May 2004, MCI announced plans to lay off 7,500 workers - on top of 4,500 in cuts it had announced a few months prior to that. But outplacement firm Challenger Gray & Christmas sees the layoffs fading a bit - while more than 12,000 telecom workers lost their jobs in December 2002, that number was just over 8,700 in December of the following year. While employment prospects are expected to be limited in telecom for the time being, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says that rising demand for services will eventually boost hiring. VAULT CAREER LIBRARY 2005 Vault Inc. Vault Guide to the Top Telecom Employers Introduction According to the BLS, telecom provided 1.2 million wage and salary jobs in 2002, the latest year for which statistics are available. Of these employees, just over half work in office and administrative support or in installation, maintenance and repair. Other positions in the industry include sales and IT-related functions like computer support, engineering and administration. Keeping job skills up-to-date is crucial in this rapidly changing industry, the BLS insists - many major employers offer training through web sites and other resources. Visit Vault at www.vault.com for insider company profiles, expert advice, career message boards, expert resume reviews, the Vault Job Board and more. VAULT CAREER LIBRARY Use the Internet's MOST TARGETED job search tools. Vault Job Board Target your search by industry, function and experience level, and find the job openings that you want. VaultMatch Resume Database Vault takes match-making to the next level: post your resume and customize your search by industry, function, experience and more. We'll match job listings with your interests and criteria and e-mail them directly to your inbox. VAULT > the most trusted name in career information™ EMPLOYER PROFILES ALLTEL Corporation 1 Allied Dr. THE STATS Little Rock, AR 72202 Phone: