It was the fifth straight month in which more manufacturing industries shed workers than added them.

That would happen because companies do not shed workers quickly as demand for products slackens.

During this recession, companies have shed workers sooner than in previous ones.

There is also evidence, though not definitive, that small companies have shed fewer workers over the last four years than large corporations.

While shedding workers, factory managers increased the hours of those who remained on the job.

The raises continued even as the economy slipped into recession in 2001 and businesses began to shed workers.

Even manufacturing companies, which for years have done nothing but shed workers, are picking up graduates.

Struggling companies do need to shed workers in order to recover.

For many of the large companies, however, the first option has been to shed workers, then try to build on what is left.

The factory has been shedding workers for years, with just 305 remaining by 1994 and only 75 now.