Challenger Reports Employers Announced 36,000 Layoffs In November

Announced layoffs dropped to about 36,000 in November, pulling back from a surge in October, according to data released Thursday by outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Led by job cuts in the consumer-products industry, November's announced layoffs were down 30% from 51,000 in October and 21% from 45,000 announced cuts in November 2013. Employers have announced about 451,000 cuts this year, down 6% from the same period in 2013. This year's jobs cuts are on track to hit the lowest annual total since 1997.