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You have full access to this article via your institution. Download PDF The careers fair at the Biotechnology Industry Organization's annual meeting in Toronto last week played host to
twice as many jobseekers — about 5,000 — as its predecessor in San Diego last year. But does this mean that there are twice as many people unemployed in biotechnology this year? There are no
easy answers or indicators, says Ian King, who helped to organize both meetings. In fact, there are several confounding factors. First is the meeting's location. Although the
conference is international, Toronto managed to draw a disproportionate number of Canadian scientists, King says. And those scientists might have had a ready appetite for such fairs, which
are _de rigueur_ in the United States, but still novel to the north. The second factor is political circumstances. Last year's meeting occurred in the midst of a series of protests
against the World Trade Organization, which also encompassed biotechnology and genetically modified organisms. As a result, the venue for last year's careers fair was changed, and
attendees had to be bussed in — which must have reduced the number of attendees in San Diego. Finally, there are the employers. Although Toronto saw about the same number of organizations
represented compared to last year, their composition was different. The San Diego meeting boasted more companies, whereas Toronto drew more government organizations. If there is any trend to
be identified, it might be that of seeking stability — people this year queued up for more established companies and for government positions, rather than for riskier young companies, says
King. To that extent, at least, the fair may be a sign of the times. AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Naturejobs editor, Paul Smaglik Authors * Paul Smaglik View author
publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Smaglik, P. A sign of the
times?. _Nature_ 417, 3 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/nj6891-03a Download citation * Issue Date: 20 June 2002 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nj6891-03a SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share
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