Number of Layoffs in US at Six-Year Low

iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Microsoft is the big exception. The company’s announcement of 18,000 job cuts goes against the latest employment trends.

Job security for most workers has improved. In fact, the number of layoffs across the U.S. is now at a six-year low.

“Firms just aren’t laying off people in a recession-like way. They’re basically back to good times in terms of layoffs,” says economist Cary Leahey.

But, he points out, job creation could be stronger.

“They just haven’t felt the good times are good enough to hire workers in profusion or to take a chance on workers who have been unemployed for a long period of time,” Leahey says.

Nevertheless, the jobs market is improving.

“It’s basically as good as it’s been in the last five or 10 years but its nothing like what happened in the 80s or 90s,” Leahey notes.

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