Washington, DC, November 2, 2006--Corporations announced 69,177 job cuts in October, down 31% from September's tally, Challenger Gray & Christmas reported Thursday.
October's unscientific tally was down 15% from October 2005, according to the outplacement firm. The figures are not seasonally adjusted.
Layoff announcements had surged in September, reaching 100,315 after Ford Motor Co. announced plans to eliminate tens of thousands of positions.
Job reductions are on pace to come in under 1 million for 2006. This would mark the first time since 2000.
For the year to date, job-reduction announcements as tracked by Challenger are down 18% to 708,406.
