Just last month, employers cut back payrolls by 159,000 - the most in over five years and another sign that today’s economy is moving fast in the wrong direction. This past Friday the Labor Department released a snapshot showing that the country’s unemployment rate remains steady and unsettling at 6.1% with thousands of workers leaving their jobs for a number of different reasons. This reduction was far more alarming than the slash of 100,000 jobs forecasted by experts who didn’t expect any significant changes.The 159,000 cutbacks in September were the most in the U.S. since March of 2003, back when the labor market was still trying to recover from the recession in 2001. The recent job losses were spread amongst different industries, having the most impact on manufacturers, construction companies, retailers, financial services and investment firms.

Employment was also significantly reduced in leisure and hospitality companies. This whopping total overshadowed employment gains in education, health, the government and any other area by far.