Haver Analytics
Haver Analytics
Global| Sep 01 2016

Challenger Survey Reports a Decline in Layoff Announcements

Summary

The outplacement firm of Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported that job cut announcements during August dropped to 31,188 (-21.8% y/y) following July's increase to 45,346. Layoffs declined in the aerospace/defense, chemical, computer, [...]


The outplacement firm of Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported that job cut announcements during August dropped to 31,188 (-21.8% y/y) following July's increase to 45,346. Layoffs declined in the aerospace/defense, chemical, computer, electronics, financial, food, real estate, retail and services industries. Layoffs rose in the apparel, automotive, commodities, construction, consumer products, education, entertainment/leisure, government, health care, industrial goods, insurance, media, pharmaceutical, telecommunications, transportation and utility industries. During the last ten years, there has been a 68% correlation between the level of job cut announcements and the m/m change in payroll employment.

Challenger also samples firms' hiring plans. Hiring increased to 9,101 last month (-22.7% y/y) after rising to 16,051 in July. It rose in the aerospace/defense, apparel, computer, entertainment/leisure, insurance, pharmaceutical, telecommunications and transportation industries. Hiring fell in the automotive, construction, consumer goods, education, electronics, financial, government, health care, industrial goods, legal, media, retail and services industries.

The Challenger figures are available in Haver's SURVEYS database.

Challenger, Gray & Christmas

Aug Jul Jun Aug Y/Y % 2015 2014 2013

Announced Job Cuts

32,188 45,346 38,536 -21.8 598,510 483,171 509,051

Announced Hiring Plans

9,101 16,051 13,564 -22.7 690,751 821,506 764,206
  • Prior to joining Haver Analytics in 2000, Mr. Moeller worked as the Economist at Chancellor Capital Management from 1985 to 1999. There, he developed comprehensive economic forecasts and interpreted economic data for equity and fixed income portfolio managers. Also at Chancellor, Mr. Moeller worked as an equity analyst and was responsible for researching and rating companies in the economically sensitive automobile and housing industries for investment in Chancellor’s equity portfolio.   Prior to joining Chancellor, Mr. Moeller was an Economist at Citibank from 1979 to 1984.   He also analyzed pricing behavior in the metals industry for the Council on Wage and Price Stability in Washington, D.C.   In 1999, Mr. Moeller received the award for most accurate forecast from the Forecasters' Club of New York. From 1990 to 1992 he was President of the New York Association for Business Economists.   Mr. Moeller earned an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham University, where he graduated in 1987. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from George Washington University.

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