©2015 RiseSmart, Inc. 1

2015 REVIEW: COMPLEX

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MERGERS,

LAYOFFS AND THE ECONOMY Submitted by The RiseSmart Team

As the New Year approaches, we’re taking a look back at the 2015 employment landscape to identify

trends in job creation and hiring, layoffs, and mergers and acquisitions. After extensive research,

we’ve compiled data that leads us to one comprehensive conclusion: Layoffs appear to be here to

stay.

©2015 RiseSmart, Inc. 2

The Good News

While there was a surge of layoffs in the latter half of 2015, we are seeing continued improvement in

the job market, specifically a steady decline in the unemployment rate. For instance, in 2009, 15.3

million people faced unemployment. Since then, the unemployment rate has been cut in half,

dropping to five percent. In 2015 alone, the unemployment rate decreased by 0.7 percent, positively

impacting 1.1 million people.

It’s time to start the conversation about outplacement. Layoffs will never be “sexy,” but how you

handle them should be. HR is ready for social outplacement: it’s more than just another box to check

off; it’s an investment in your strategy, your growth, and—perhaps most important—your people.

In addition to an improving unemployment rate, several industries have experienced a boom in hiring

and new job creation, including:

Healthcare: 495,000 jobs

Professional and Business Services: 641,000 jobs

Retail Trade: 324,000 jobs

Construction: 233,000 jobs

Food and Beverage Services: 368,000 jobs

However, even though the job market has improved, layoffs have remained relatively steady over the

past decade, regardless of economic conditions.

Layoffs Continue In Spite of Improving Economy

Contrary to popular belief, layoffs do not always occur due to poor economic conditions or cost-

cutting. While the economy can contribute to a company’s reduction in workforce, it is merely one

factor in the equation. Other common causes for layoffs include organizational restructuring,

technological progress, regulatory changes, outsourcing, and mergers and acquisitions.

The federal government’s decision to remove troops from the Middle East and scale back the military

across the board is a prime example. The motivations for the decision were complex and political in

nature. To a certain degree, the cuts were expected, since recruitment efforts during the height of

fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan grew the military considerably to meet a temporary need.

Now that priorities have changed, fewer troops are needed. There is still a financial impact, and

government spending is always a hot-button issue. Regardless of why the decision was made, 40,000

troops will be let go over the next two years.

©2015 RiseSmart, Inc. 3

The Impact of Mergers and Acquisitions

Another primary cause for a layoff is a merger or acquisition—2015 was a big year for M&As, with an

all-time high of more than $4 trillion made in deals. All of these transactions could be another sign of

an improving economy, since they signify confidence in the market. However, with a merger there

usually come layoffs to address the resulting redundancies in staffing.

One notable merger of 2015 is that of Kraft and Heinz. The deal, which created the fifth largest food

and beverage company in the world, was announced in July of this year. Less than two months later,

the company announced it would be cutting 2,500 jobs or five percent of the 46,000 workers

employed by Kraft Heinz, and, given the company’s reputation for aggressive cost-cutting, some

speculate that the company could announce additional layoffs in the near future.

In good times and bad, it seems layoffs are a fact of business and here to stay. The upside for those

impacted by a layoff during a strong economy is that there are more jobs to be had, and

outplacement helps connect job seekers with the next step in their career.

RiseSmart is dedicated to helping employees land firmly on their feet. Our participants land 60

percent faster than the national average, and 71 percent of those who secure a job through RiseSmart

attain similar or higher salaries. Click here to view an infographic with more stats like this and a visual

breakdown of 2015 job market trends.

If you’d like to learn more about RiseSmart Spotlight, check out the press release announcing our

launch.

About RiseSmart

RiseSmart, a Randstad company, is a leading provider of contemporary career transition services that

strengthen employer brands, improve retention and re-engage talent. RiseSmart's contemporary

approach to outplacement combines personalized services from trained professionals with

unmatched technology delivered through a convenient, cloud-based platform.

For more information about how enterprise career management can help you, visit

http://www.risesmart.com.