[Legbreaker]

It is conceivable that many people will still identify with their prewar occupations even a year or two after they are no longer actually employed. A mechanic for example, is likely to remain a mechanic, in fact as well as thought, while a banker purely out of pride, etc may fool themselves into thinking they're still a banker right up to the point where he's been robbed of all his food and useful goods (possibly even after).

It's not until Autumn of 1998 (roughly September) that the last of the nukes were fired off, "targeting surviving industrial centres in the UK and Italy". Therefore, it's very likely a LOT of people would still be employed both directly and indirectly in these areas (and many other un-nuked areas for months, even years to come).

Production, as discussed elsewhere, is definately going to be seriously limited, but whilever there is a functioning governement (or some sort of supply chain for the troops) industry is going to continue to the best of their ability.

It is my belief that civilisation, although virtually bankrupt in 2000, is still going to be limping along in 1997-98, and possibly having it's last gasp in 1999.