PREVIEW 2004
Things haven’t looked this good in a while.
Orange County heads into 2004 with projections of job growth, an export surge, a technology comeback and signs of life in commercial real estate. Even hard-hit manufacturers have a better outlook than in the past two years.
But 2004 stands to be a recovery year, not a boom. The county could see 25,000 new jobs next year, about half of what it added in 2000.
There’s a cyclical shift at play, too. Mortgage companies, title insurers and homebuilders, which helped prop up OC’s economy during the downturn, now face tougher times ahead. At the same time, 2004 could be a turning point for office landlords and investment banks, two of the hardest hit groups in the past two years.
Perhaps the biggest comeback could be felt in OC’s technology sector.
Keep your eyes out for something we haven’t seen much of recently: a tech public offering. 2004 could be the year that surviving startups test the waters of Wall Street. And OC could be in for a sizable stock debut with an expected offering by chipmaker Jazz Semi-conductor Inc. of Newport Beach.
In our annual forecast issue, we take a look at what to expect in the coming year.
LOOKING AHEAD
& #149; Technology
& #149; Trade
& #149; Manufacturing
& #149; Retail
& #149; Real Estate
& #149; Health
& #149; Government
& #149; Finance
& #149; Tourism
