NEW YORK – U.S. layoff announcements rose 3 percent last month to the highest level in 11 months as automation-related restructuring continues to take a toll, a report released on Thursday said. Job cut announcements reached 84,638 in February – the highest since last March – from 82,307 in January, outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas said. It was the highest total for the month of February since 2009, Read The Rest at :