U.S.-based employers announced 24,286 cuts in April, a 14% increase from the 21,387 announced in March and up 6% from the 22,913 cuts announced in April 2021. It is the first time this year job cuts were higher than the corresponding month a year earlier, according to a report released Thursday from global outplacement and business and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.
So far this year, employers announced plans to cut 79,982 job cuts, down 52% from the 167,599 cuts announced through the same period in 2021. It is the lowest recorded January-April total since Challenger began tracking monthly job cut announcements in 1993*.
*From 1989-1992, an outside newsletter tracked job cut announcements. Source: Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. ©
"Job cut plans appear to be on the rise, particularly as companies assess market conditions, inflationary risks, and capital spending," said Andrew Challenger, Senior Vice President of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.
"Despite this, job openings are still at record highs. Workers who are being cut will have lots of opportunities and will likely land quickly," he added.
Indeed, the latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) for March reported a series-high number of job openings at 11.5 million and 4.5 million quits, another record.
Industries with the Most Cuts
After four consecutive months of Health Care/Products leading job cuts, Entertainment/Leisure led all industries in April with 3,675 job cuts for a total of 6,667 this year. That is a 40% decrease from the 11,149 cuts in this sector announced through April 2021.
Source: Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. ©
The Services sector announced the second-most cuts in April with 3,453, followed by Financial companies with 2,772. Retailers announced 2,213 job cuts in April.
Hiring Announcements
Employers in the United States announced 88,662 hiring plans in April, down 16% from the 105,224 hiring plans in March and up 16% from the 76,345 announced in the same month last year. Hiring plans are up 24% from the 392,578 announced in the first four months of 2021 with 486,603.
Source: Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. ©
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