80,000 Jobs Cut in March- New York Times

SOURCE:  http://www.nytimes.com/

As the housing slump erases home equity values and the crisis on Wall Street puts a crimp on the ability of businesses to lend, Americans from all walks of life are facing one of the most difficult job markets in years.

In March, private payrolls dropped for a fourth month, as factories, home builders and retail outlets all slashed positions. The only increases came in education and government jobs, as well as the leisure and hospitality industries.

Employers cut 76,000 jobs in January and February, far more than originally estimated.

In the Chicago area, the last year has brought shift eliminations at auto plants as well as layoffs in the manufacturing, construction and financial services industries.

George Putnam, an economist with the Illinois state government, says that when he talks with employers about hiring, he hears caution in their voices...MORE