LAYOFFS UP UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS DOWN IN 2015

There is a dichotomy going on where layoffs are increasing but new jobless claims continue to decline.  The number of jobless claims are now below where they were prior to the "Great Recession."  In contrast, job layoffs are up for the 3rd quarter of 2015, but according to the figure below, they are less than before the "Great Recession."

In fact, the four-week moving average of claims, considered a better measure of labor market trends as it strips out week-to-week volatility, slipped 2,000 to 263,250 last week, the lowest level since December 1973. * [!]

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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the average duration of unemployment was 26.3 weeks in September, compared with 31.8 weeks for the same period in 2014.
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The third quarter of 2015 was the worst in terms of job cuts since the third quarter of 2009, the report found. So far this year, there have been more layoffs announced than in the full year of 2014. (Note: the figure below shows that the job cuts are less than the 3rd quarter of 2011.  I do not know the reason for the conflict.)

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The odds are especially bright for skilled workers, he said. "Skilled workers are the fuel of this economy." says Christopher.

(Click to enlarge)

* http://www.cnbc.com/2015/10/22/layoffs-dont-necessarily-spell-trouble-challenger.html