BY THE NUMBERS: Recent job losses in Canada

As Target starts its liquidation sale to close off its Canadian stores, we take a look back at several other losses to have hit the jobs market recently.

Target announces on Jan. 14 that it is leaving Canada, closing 133 stores and laying off 17,600 employees.

Zellers was sold to Target for $1.83 billion by parent company Hudson’s Bay Co. in 2011.

Wrigley on Feb. 3 that it will be closing its Toronto gum factory in March 2016 as part of a supply chain reorganization in North America. The closure will affect 383 employees.

Tim Hortons announced on Jan. 27 that about 350 jobs have been cut at its headquarters and regional offices across the country in a reorganization of its operations.

Suncor Energy Inc. says on Jan. 13 that it is reducing its workforce by 1,000 and trimming $1 billion from its capital budget.

Sony Corp. announced on Jan. 14 that it’s closing all 14 retail stores in Canada. The Japanese electronics company’s closures will result in 90 layoffs. It currently has stores in Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Vancouver, Toronto and Alberta.

Mexx Canada declared bankruptcy in December 2014. The Dutch-based retailer is liquidating 95 stores in Canada by the end of February, affecting 250 positions. It has 315 stores around the world.

Smart Set‘s parent company Reitmans announced in November 2014 that it would close 107 Smart Set stores. It will convert 76 locations into other banners, including Reitmans, Penningtons, Addition Elle, RW&Co. and Thyme Maternity. The Smart Set banner was created in 1945, with the first location opening in Ontario in 1970. The first Reitmans store opened in Montreal in 1926.

Jacob was founded in 1977 in Montreal. The womens’ retailer announced in October 2014 it would abandon restructuring efforts and close 92 stores across the country. The company was under creditor protection since November 2010.

Holt Renfrew closed stores in Ottawa and Quebec City at the end of January 2015. The luxury retailer will undertake a $300 million expansion in key markets such as Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal.

Sears Canada announced in January 2014 that it was cutting 2,200 employees from its payroll. It had already laid off thousands of employees in 2013. In October 2014, parent company Sears Holding Corp. announced it would sell most of its stake in the struggling Canadian unit to raise as much as US$380 million. Sears Canada has sold leases to some of its most prominent locations, including its flagship location at the Toronto Eaton Centre.

The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) laid off 500 employees in two weeks in January 2015, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Scotiabank announced 1,500 layoffs in November 2014.

And in the U.S., American Express announced in January 2015 that it is cutting more than 4,000 jobs globally, or about six per cent of its total workforce. EBay also announces in January 2015 that it will cut 2,400 jobs, or seven per cent of its workforce, before the end of March.