That compares with a net profit margin of 16.8% at mining giant

Just in recent days, household names like AT&T Inc. , DuPont, JPMorgan Chase &Co. , as well as jet engine maker Pratt &Whitney, and mining company Freeport-McMoRan Copper &Gold Inc. announced layoffs.

Wing feather with copper-containing pigment, flight and display, Courtesy Peter Mullen, Ph.D.