Is this a golden age for technical authors?

Is this a golden age for permanent technical authors and technical writers? It may well be, even if it doesn't feel it today.

We are probably at the point in the UK where the jobs market is *just* to the advantage of job-seekers, though salary rates have not been affected. Most likely, we're also at a tipping point for the adoption of new tools and technologies, such as DITA XML, Web 2.0, AuthorIT and Flare. Significantly, these are technologies that can be adopted across the enterprise.

Then there's the possibilities of an economic downturn in 2007/8 and more off-shoring of work in the future. If, in two years time, you're doing the same things in the same way as today then you may well find you have been passed by.

So is this a golden age? We may be in a better place to tell in about two years' time. What do you think?