Along with the outsourcing of manufacturing, traditionally a fertile ground for union recruitment, the expansion of the part-time workforce has hampered union activity, as this sort of employee is harder to organise.

ECONOMIST: Disorganised labour | The

The idea that, after a period of expansion, the brain pares back its workforce to become leaner and meaner is somehow rather appealing.

ECONOMIST: Memory formation

"Slowing industry growth is both requiring Dell to resize its workforce and allowing the company to streamline its organisation after several years of rapid expansion, " the company said in a statement.

BBC: Dell to lay off 10% of staff