Who is hiring – and who is firing?

Sometimes averages can conceal the bigger picture. We all know that the business environment is tough, and the firms experiencing the most difficult trading conditions are likely to be those that have to cut back on the numbers that they employ. Here’s some international data to show which firms have cut their payrolls, and which are still expanding employment.

Of course, other factors may be at work, beyond the current levels of demand firms enjoy. Changing employment patterns often reflect other forces at work, especially technological and organisational change.

The data is on The Economist’s daily chart site.