outplacement

American  

[out-pleys-muhnt] / ˈaʊtˌpleɪs mənt /

noun

1. counseling and assistance in finding a new job, provided by a company for an employee who has been or is about to be dismissed.

2. an act or instance of outplacing.

3. the state or condition of being outplaced.

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outplacement British  

/ ˈaʊtˌpleɪsmənt /

noun

1. a service that offers counselling and careers advice, esp to redundant executives, which is paid for by their previous employer

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Etymology

Origin of outplacement

First recorded in 1965–70; out- + placement

Example Sentences

From January to March, tech companies have announced 52,050 layoffs, up 40% from the same period last year, according to outplacement and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

Companies attributed nearly 100,000 layoffs to AI between 2023 and March 2026, according to outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

According to outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, U.S. employers announced 108,435 job cuts in January, up about 118% from the same month last year and marking the highest January layoff number since 2009.

From Barron's • Feb. 6, 2026

U.S.-based employers announced 1.2 million job cuts in 2025, the highest annual figure since 2020, according to outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026

California employers announced 173,022 job cuts in the first 11 months of this year, up nearly 14% from the same period last year, according to data from outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 16, 2025