Layoffs
Number of layoffs since Nov. 1, 2008, at America's 500 largest public companies: 132,240
Source: http://www.forbes.com/leadership/2008/11/17/layoff-tracker-unemployement-lead-cx_kk_1118tracker.html
And this doesn't include people who take buy-outs or are forced into early retirements, as they're "quitting" and therefore not eligible for unemployment. Chrysler -- not included in this list as it's neither big enough nor a Public company -- has 5,000+ less employees this month than it did last, most through buy-outs, some (like me) through lay-offs.
Good, albeit scary, to know that it's happening in more than just Detroit.