The pace of downsizing remained virtually unchanged in April, as U.S.-based employers announced planned job cuts totaling 40,559 during the month. That is a 7.1 percent increase from 37,880 job cuts announced in March, according to the latest job-cut report released Thursday by global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.
April job cuts were up 11.2 percent from the same month a year ago, when employers announced 36,490 planned cuts, the lowest monthly total recorded in 2011.
So far this year, employers have announced 183,653 job cuts, 9.8 percent more than the 167,239 job cuts by this point in 2011. Despite the year-over year increase, the monthly average of 45,913 through the first four months of the year is below the 12-month average of 50,507 in 2011.
Read the full report here.
