John Challenger
John Challenger
Challenger, Gray & Christmas, with headquarters located in Chicago, Illinois, is the oldest executive outplacement firm in the US. It has offices throughout North America...
appear buy clear companies confused costs cut direction due economy employers expensive foreign fuel higher increased inflation job numbers picture prices seeing soar weaker year
The only clear picture we have from the job cut numbers this year is that employers appear to be confused about the direction this economy is taking, ... Companies are experiencing increased business, but they are also seeing their costs soar due to higher fuel prices, inflation in supplier prices and a weaker dollar, which makes it more expensive to buy foreign parts.
activity among behind cause competition continue cuts economy force improving increased industry job leading reasons second top year
Merger/acquisition activity was the second leading cause of job cuts (in January), behind cost-cutting. It will continue to be among the top job-cut reasons this year as an improving economy and increased competition force industry consolidation.
certainly companies competition consumer corporate cut economic helped inability increased job maintain overall prices pricing raise spending stiff voracious
While voracious consumer spending has helped maintain overall economic strength, companies are still hampered by stiff pricing competition from abroad, ... The inability to raise prices has cut into corporate profits, which, in turn, has most certainly contributed to increased job cutting.
consumer continued cutting decline economy head holiday increased job prompt reduction result security shopping slowing spending
Continued job cutting as a result of a slowing economy and increased outsourcing could prompt a significant decline in job security and a subsequent reduction in consumer spending just as we head into the all-important holiday shopping season,
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The good news for displaced workers as well as for the economy is that the jobs that are being affected the most by downsizing are still in demand, ... This is why the unemployment rate has not increased at nearly the same rate as job cuts.
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What's new is that these relationships between men and women are less fraught with risk.
afford companies lose peak people period
We are at a peak period of employment. Companies can't afford to lose people.
age retirement seeing
We're seeing the dismantling of the retirement age of 65.
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There is no question about it. More people today are striking out on their own, either involuntarily or voluntarily.
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There are thousands of co-heads, chiefs and directors now. You don't know if they are top people or are buried in middle management somewhere.
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There is a lot of extra fiscal stimulus moving into the economy from the storm relief.
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Overall, job cuts are down from last year and significantly lower than the record numbers we saw in 2002 and 2001, but there are still some worrisome trends,
business home improvement
Retailers, restaurants, real estate, home improvement stores... will all see business decline.
costs early earnings fighting forced good great last months percentage posture pressure putting retailers turn year
Retailers are being forced to turn into discounters at all levels, and that early transformation to a discounting posture is putting great pressure on profits. Retailers make a good percentage of their profitability in the last two months of the year. This year those earnings are going to be under real pressure. They'll be fighting to keep costs down.