Despite Jobs-Cuts Headlines, Labor Market Is Fine

Four major U.S. companies recently announced plans to cut a whopping 40,000 jobs, but despite the headlines, hiring remains strong, analysts said.

This quarter is the worst since the recession, with 81,000 total job cuts, but the U.S. government may report this week that unemployment remained at its lowest levels since 2008.

The juxtaposition of apparently contradictory data shows the divergence within corporate America as the third quarter draws to a close. While automakers and retailers enjoyed soaring profits, earnings at energy, industrial and materials companies were crushed by the rout in crude prices and a slowdown in emerging markets. ...