Florida job cuts increase in May
But layoffs down 15 percent year-to-date over the same period one year ago
Florida employers announced more job cuts in May than a year ago — 1,511 compared with 846 — but year-to-date layoffs have declined, according to Chicagobased outsourcing company Challenger, Gray & Christmas’ monthly report.
Employers reported 6,915 jobs cuts from January to May, which is 15 percent lower than the 8,126 job cuts in the same period in 2017.
In South Florida, the largest layoffs announced during the month were at Sears, which is closing its store at the Westfield Broward mall in Plantation, eliminating 81 jobs, according to Challenger. The store is expected to close in midJuly, a Sears spokesperson said. The Sears Auto Center closed on May 12.
Miami-based hospital company Baptist Health South Florida told the state it would cut 588 jobs statewide, scheduled for July 14 to July 23.
Baptist is transitioning employees in medical billing to a new company, said company spokeswoman Dori Robau Alvarez. The affected employees are being offered jobs at Health System Solutions, a new joint venture between Baptist Health and Navigant, she said.
In Miami Lakes, retailer FDC Vitamins, known as Nutri-Force Nutrition, announced 15 layoffs, scheduled for July 7 to July 21.
Nationwide, job cuts were down 4.8 percent from the 33,092 announced in May 2017. That is the lowest monthly total since October 2017, when 29,831 cuts were announced, Challenger said.
“On average, job cuts are at their lowest in May and June. Companies typically make their staffing moves at the beginning of the year or in the fourth quarter,” said John Challenger, CEO of Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
So far this year, employers have announced 207,977 job cuts — 6.2 percent more than the 195,895 announced through the first five months of 2017.
Retail leads all industry sectors in job cuts this year with 69,316 — 4,946 of which occurred in May. Retailers have announced 24 percent more cuts than through the same period last year, when 55,910 cuts were announced. So far this year, Challenger has tracked 2,565 store closures.
Challenger’s forward-looking report counts job cuts as they are announced.
mpounds@sunsentinel.com