Jan. layoff announcements up 32% By Rex Nutting
Corporations increased the pace of layoff announcements in January by 32 percent to 212,704 from December's 161,584, according to a survey by outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas released Tuesday. January's total was the third highest in the survey's 9-year history and is 50 percent higher than the January 2000 total. Since Sept. 11, 999,000 job cuts have been announced by corporations. Automakers topped the list in January, cutting 43,035, including 35,000 at Ford."There have been indications from major companies that significant workforce reductions may be announced in coming weeks and months," said John Challenger, CEO of the firm.

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