Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. News Release (01/08/15)

Payroll cuts declined for the second month in a row in December as employers anticipated firing 32,640 employees, down 9.2% from 35,940 planned layoffs in November, according to a report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. Employers announced a total of 483,171 job cuts last year, 5.0% fewer than in 2013 and the lowest annual total since 1997.

“Layoffs aren’t simply at prerecession levels; they are at pre-2001-recession levels. This bodes well for job seekers, who will not only find more employment opportunities in 2015, but will enjoy increased job security once they are in those new positions,” says John Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas.