Job cuts announced by U.S.-based employers hit 1,238,364 in the second quarter, the highest quarterly total on record, according to a monthly report released Thursday by global outplacement and business and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.
June job cuts totaled 170,219, down 57% from May’s total of 397,016, and up 306% from the 41,977 cuts recorded in the same month last year. Prior to when cuts began to increase this year in March, it is the highest monthly total since February 2009, when 186,350 job cuts were announced.
Source: Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. ©
Second quarter cuts are up 257% from the 346,683 tracked in the first quarter of this year and 781% from the 140,577 recorded in the same quarter last year. It is 108% higher than the previous record quarterly total of 594,326 cuts Challenger tracked in the third quarter of 2001.
So far this year, employers have announced 1,585,047 cuts, 379% higher than the 330,987 cuts tracked in January-June of 2019. It is up 77% from the previous January-June record of 896,675 tracked in 2009.
“Job cuts are trending down, as expected, as businesses begin the difficult task of reopening. However, with a resurgence in cases, millions of Americans out of work, and enhanced unemployment benefits coming to an end soon, we may expect more companies to make cuts as consumer and business spending slows,” said Andrew Challenger, Senior Vice President of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.
While COVID-19 was cited as the reason for 1,011,387 of the 1,585,047 cuts this year, market conditions were to blame for 228,592. Another 71,814 cuts were due to closings and 62,564 were due to a demand downturn. So far this year, Challenger has tracked 16,805 cuts due to the downturn in oil prices.
“We are beginning to see the impact of the recession spreading to companies that were not directly impacted by the virus. At the same time, companies that attempted to reopen but were only able to attract a fraction of their pre-COVID customers are closing down again. Meanwhile, a number of high-profile companies are filing for bankruptcy,” said Challenger.
Bankruptcy has caused 9,581 job cuts so far this year.
“Many people who thought they were temporarily out of work or simply furloughed are learning their positions are gone for good,” said Challenger.
