The rise in the stock market has led some to conclude the recession is over

Tell that to the tens of millions of unemployed who will be welcoming new members shortly. Until people feel secure in their incomes, a recovery is a long way off.

Here are a few layoff notices handed out in the last week.

Canadian Manufacturers Association president Jayson Myers says “that even after shedding 200,000 jobs in the past year, a significant number of employers are still planning to lay off workers in the next few months.” CP

Software company Adobe is worried enough laying off 9% of 680 of its employees. TechCrunch

Electronic Arts, games and computer manufacturer, is laying off 1,500 employees. Gamasutra

AOL laid off 100 employees ahead of its spin off from Time Warner. Digital Trends

Advertising giant BBDO is closing its Windsor Ontario office laying off 485 employees. It recently lost its contract with Chrysler which started in 1944. Windsor Star

Microsoft announced 800 more layoffs, after 5,000 already this year. Johnson and Johnson is reducing its workforce by 8,300 jobs. Yahoo News

After already laying off 7,600 employers, Pfizer says it will lay off another 4,600 people over the next three years. bNet

Comcast told its employees to brace for layoffs after it acquires NBC. DSL Reports.com

Minnesota Star-Tribune laid off 100 employees. Editorsweblog.org

Also reporting significant layoffs are Yahoo Canada (closing), Nextel, A&E and Lifetime channel, Lloyds Bank UK, Applied Materials, Sprint, AK Steel, eBay, Kodak, the NY Times and fill-in-the-name-of-your-local or national newspaper.

Layoffs do one thing. They allow companies to report higher profits on lower or same sales. That boosts their stock price. Both are survival moves.

In the longest recession in recent history, continuing layoffs reduce corporate capacity since people make companies tick. They also lower consumption and raise government deficits.

No wonder net redemptions of mutual funds have continued. Retail investors don’t trust the stock market and many need their savings to get by.