Haver Analytics
Haver Analytics
Global| Jul 07 2016

Challenger Survey Reports Slight Rise in Job Cuts

Summary

The outplacement firm of Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported that job cut announcements during June rose to 38,536 (-14.1% y/y) following May's sharp decline to 30,157. Layoffs increased in the aerospace/defense, automotive, [...]


The outplacement firm of Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported that job cut announcements during June rose to 38,536 (-14.1% y/y) following May's sharp decline to 30,157. Layoffs increased in the aerospace/defense, automotive, chemical, commodities, consumer goods, electronics, entertainment/leisure, financial, food, insurance, media, retail, services, 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. Layoffs fell in the apparel, computer, construction, education, energy, government/nonprofit, health care, industrial goods, pharmaceutical and telecommunications industries.

Challenger also samples firms' hiring plans. Hiring eased 13,564 (+11.4% y/y) after rising 24,732 in May. It fell in the automotive, chemical, computer, education, energy, food, government & nonprofit, health care, industrial goods, insurance, media, retail, telecommunications and transportation industries. Hiring rose in the aerospace/defense, construction, consumer products, electronics, financial, services and utility industries.

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

Challenger, Gray & Christmas

Jun May Apr Jun Y/Y % 2015 2014 2013

Announced Job Cuts

38,536 30,157 64,141 -14.1 598,510 483,171 509,051

Announced Hiring Plans

13,564 24,732 11,557 11.4 690,751 821,506 764,206
  • 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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