Already this year, more than 283,000 people were fired according to Challenger Gray & Christmas.
Of those laid off, nearly 60 percent were dismissed because of a corporate restructuring or cost cutting move.
Business Insider dug through corporate filings, press releases, and data through Bloomberg to assemble a list of the North American companies that have been hardest hit by layoffs.
Figures are based on announced numbers, meaning cuts may be partially underway or set to start later this year.
#15 (tie): Archer-Daniels-Midland — 1,200 layoffs
Percent of Employees Cut:
3.9%
Number of Employees After Cuts:
29,500
Description:
Layoffs hit the company’s corporate offices as ADM tried to cut costs in the U.S. after reporting profits fell 90 percent in the first quarter. The company had been hard hit by swings in commodity costs.
Source: Associated Press
#15 (tie): Citigroup — 1,200 Layoffs
Percent of Employees Cut:
0.5%
Number of Employees After Cuts:
259,800
Description:
Citi has announced plans to trim its securities division as it focuses on its retail banking side. Recently, the bank said it was considering cutting head count by an additional 350 people.
Source: Bloomberg Businessweek
#13 (tie): United Continental Holdings — 1,300 Layoffs
Percent of Employees Cut:
1.5%
Number of Employees After Cuts:
85,700
Description:
As the carrier consolidates operations in the U.S., it said it would cut its Houston operations by some 10 percent. First to go, canceled routes including Houston to Auckland, New Zealand.
Source: Houston Business Journal
#13 (tie): Cisco Systems — 1,300 Layoffs
Percent of Employees Cut:
1.8%
Number of Employees After Cuts:
70,525
Description:
The networking giant cut sales people in both its WebEx and Wide Area Application Services unit. Sources said the entire WAAS sales team was fired, but Cisco could not confirm that.
Source: Business Insider
#12: Kraft Foods — 1,600 Layoffs
Percent of Employees Cut:
1.3%
Number of Employees After Cuts:
124,400
Description:
Kraft announced the cuts to its North American workers as it readies to split the company in two. Nearly 40 percent of cuts to headcount will come from the U.S. salesforce and corporate arm.
Source: Business Insider
#10 (tie): Yahoo — 2,000 Layoffs
Percent of Employees Cut:
14.2%
Number of Employees After Cuts:
12,100
Description:
Yahoo announced massive job cuts earlier this year, particularly in its products group.
Source: Business Insider
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/biggest-layoffs-announcements-of-2012-2012-7?op=1#ixzz21itfV6qd
