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Layoffs at U.S. firms ease in December - report Tuesday January 6, 10:01 am ET NEW YORK, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Job cuts announced by U.S. employers fell modestly in December, a report said on Tuesday, and for the whole of 2003 they were 16 percent below 2002. Planned layoffs at U.S. companies fell to 93,020 in December from 99,452 in November, job placement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. said in its monthly report. For 2003, job cuts declined to 1,236,426 from 1,466,823. "The decline in job cuts is certainly welcome news, but it is difficult to get too...

U.S. firms' job cuts plunge 42 pct in Nov. -report Tuesday December 2, 10:04 am ET NEW YORK, Dec 2 (Reuters) - The number of job cuts announced by U.S. employers fell 42 percent in a holiday-shortened November after hitting a 12-month high in October, a report said on Tuesday. Planned layoffs at U.S. firms fell to 99,452 jobs in November from 171,874 in October, job placement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. said in their monthly job cut report. Job cuts announced so far this year amount to 1,143,406, 17 percent less than the same period a year ago....

Tue November 4, 2003 10:33 AM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - The number of job cuts announced by U.S. employers surged 125 percent in October, after declining for two months, calling into question the strength of the recovery in the job market. Planned layoffs at U.S. firms shot up to 171,874 jobs in October, from 76,506 in September, job placement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas said on Tuesday. Announced layoffs were at their highest since Oct. 2002, when 176,010 job cuts were announced. "With factors like technology, outsourcing, and consolidation working against job creation, any job market rebound we see...

U.S. layoff plans ease in September-report Wednesday October 1, 10:09 am ET NEW YORK, Oct 1 (Reuters) - U.S. employers announced fewer job cuts in September, a potential sign of stability in an otherwise grim labor market, a report showed on Wednesday. Planned layoffs at U.S. firms slipped to 76,506 in September from 79,925 in August, job placement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas said. Companies have announced 872,080 job cuts so far this year, still high but 16 percent lower than the total for the first nine months of 2002. "Are job-cut plans being downsized? It looks that way," said...

Tue September 2, 2003 10:08 AM ET NEW YORK, Sept 2 (Reuters) - U.S. employers announced fewer job cuts in August, indicating the job market may be stabilizing, a report showed on Tuesday. Planned layoffs at U.S. firms slipped 6 percent to 79,925 in August from 85,117 in July, job placement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas said. The year's announced job cuts so far total 795,574, still high, but 15 percent lower than the total for the first eight months of 2002. But companies are still a long way from hiring new workers, the report added. "While job cuts have...