A little here, a little there -- Progress in job-offshoring? Don't count on it.

From July 29 Wall Street Journal ("wjs") -- Headline: "IBM Now Plans Fewer Layoffs From Offshoring."

"IBM became a lightning rod for critics of offshoring earlier this year after internal documents revealed plans to send nearly 5,000 jobs to India, Brazil and other developing countries over two years to save on labor costs. Many of the jobs were high-skilled programming positions that pay 75% less abroad."

"[IBM] now expects 2,000 U.S. workers will lose their jobs as a result of offshoring, down from the 3,000 the company predicted in January."

"While most companies have stopped disclosing the offshoring of jobs in the wake of the political outcry over the issue last winter, analysts say there's no sign the trend has abated. Economic forecaster Global Insight recently estimated that U.S. companies' spending for global sourcing of computer software and services will grow to $31 billion in 2008 from $10 billion in 2003, although its analysis also predicts increases in the total number of U.S. information-technology jobs."