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The U.S. just had the most Q1 layoffs in a decade

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Re: The U.S. just had the most Q1 layoffs in a decade

#31
post #5

> The impact: It's the highest number of job cuts in a quarter since 2015. Highest since 2015 is less surprising than “ highest in a decade”

Also generates less clicks. I probably wouldn't have clicked this if it said "most job cuts in a quarter since 2015".

I also feel like the scale of this graph makes this look a lot worse than the numbers indicate.

Re: The U.S. just had the most Q1 layoffs in a decade

#32
post #2

"The report said worry about an economic slowdown was the main driver of companies' layoff intentions." I sometimes wonder if these sorts of economic projections end up being self-fulfilling prophecies. If everyone tightens up spending because they expect a recession, that essentially guarantees there will be one.

"The report said worry about an economic slowdown was the main driver of companies' layoff intentions."

Has anyone seen this happen in practice? Any HNer who is management have to lay people off because their executives say “we have no problem getting capital right now but we think it might become more difficult in the future.”

Re: The U.S. just had the most Q1 layoffs in a decade

#33
post #17

And yet, markets are nearly at all time highs. I'd like to see a breakdown of who's buying stocks/equities. EDIT: I know earnings are high, but much of our growth over the last 20 years has been during 2-4% GDP deficit. I don't think that's been priced into the markets. Markets may be assuming that the deficit party will continue.

The unemployment rate is the lowest it has been in 50 years. That stat isn't perfect but it is still that the number of people with jobs is about as high as it has ever been.

Trouble with the unemployment numbers is that it does not account for employment quality. There is a very high number of people who are underemployed or those who have stopped participating in the job market.

Re: The U.S. just had the most Q1 layoffs in a decade

#34
post #3

cool fun times. glad we just gave billionaires and mega corporations a trillion dollars

Not taking isn't the same as giving.

If you oppose something, it's a good idea to demonstrate you understand what you're against, otherwise you risk looking stupid.

Re: The U.S. just had the most Q1 layoffs in a decade

#35

And yet, markets are nearly at all time highs. I'd like to see a breakdown of who's buying stocks/equities. EDIT: I know earnings are high, but much of our growth over the last 20 years has been during 2-4% GDP deficit. I don't think that's been priced into the markets. Markets may be assuming that the deficit party will continue.

Regardless of whether the economy is or is not where it should be right now, the phenomena that the market is at its all-time high is extremely common. Its weekly peak is more likely to be an all-time high than not, because its objective is to grow. This is true, whether its growing at 0.5% or 5%. Its only slightly more interesting than, for example, my age being at an all-time high. So in that sense, its a pretty useless metric (but sounds good!).

Per capita or velocity are much more useful metrics.

Re: The U.S. just had the most Q1 layoffs in a decade

#38
post #22

So basically the fear of recession may trigger a recession? Laying off, cutting spending and thus cascading economic contraction? Don’t think that would be a liquidity trap, but this type of recession always makes me think of Krugmans Baby-Sitting COOP model: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitol_Hill_Babysitting_Co-...

Yes. Also known in economics as a self-fulfilling crisis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-fulfilling_crisis

Re: The U.S. just had the most Q1 layoffs in a decade

#40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is HN going to turn into just another boilerplate low-quality, sarcastic tribal sniping comments section? Seems like it's well on its way...

Garbage in garbage out... post a vapid factoid article that's spun to make a specific number look bad, with little context, and what else is there to say?

The article throws a wrench in the economic argument for isolationist and xenophobic policies, though we really shouldn't need that to know that our president is not a good person.
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