(CNN)– U.S. based employers announced 71% fewer layoffs in October than they did a year ago. That’s according to a new report from outplacement and business research firm Challenger, Gray, and Christmas. They tallied 44,000 job cut announcements last month, which is a slight increase from September, but it’s still well below the 153,000 tracked one year ago, when companies like Amazon and U.P.S. announced massive layoffs in October. Food companies accounted for the biggest share of the planned layoffs. Tech companies made up the second largest share. Categories: News Tags: economic growth, economy growth, employment, job market, U.S. economy, U.S. job market, Unemployment Rate ...read more read less