Sixteen Biggest Mass Layoffs Of 2012: What does this tell you about the U.S. economy, job scenario, confidence level, and strategies of corporations?

From the links:

• http://www.businessinsider.com/biggest-layoffs-announcements-of-2012-2012-7?op=1
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/05/citigroup-job-cuts_n_2243975.html?utm_hp_ref=canada&ir=Canada

Here are the 16 Biggest Mass Layoffs Of 2012: What does this tell you about the U.S. economy, job scenario, confidence level, and strategies of corporations? Recession is a good time to restructure organizations?

List of layoffs in 2012 here:

1. 27,000 - HP (Hewlett Packard)
2. 14,200 - American Airlines
3. 10,000 - Lockheed Martin
4. 9,000 - IBM
5. 8,700 - Pepsi
6. 5,000 - Research In Motion
7. 2,800 - BestBuy
8. 2,500 - Supervalu
9. 2,160 - Boeing
10. 2,000 - First Solar 
11. 2,000 - Yahoo
12. 1,600 - Kraft foods
13. 1,300 - Cisco systems
14. 1,300 - United Airlines (United Continental Holdings)
15. 1,200 - Citigroup
16. 1,200 - ADM (Archer Daniels Midland)