National

DuPont: Slowdowns in the construction and automotive markets have impacted chemical sales, and as a result chemical maker DuPont will cut 2,500 jobs. Approximately 4,000 contractors will also be released.

State Street Corporation: Boston-based financial services firm State Street Corp. will cut as many as 1,800 jobs. Middle- and upper-management jobs are targeted.

Philips Healthcare: Philips Healthcare, a division of electronics and diversified products company Philips Electronics, will reduce its global workforce by about 5 percent in response to the overall economy. The majority of Philips Healthcare employees are based in the United States.

Viacom Inc.: Media giant Viacom, owner of brands that include MTV, Paramount Pictures, and others, will cut 850 jobs and freeze some senior-level salaries in 2009 as it copes with the economy. Positions to be eliminated represent about 7 percent of staff and will hit all departments.

ArcelorMittal: ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steelmaker, will eliminate 9,000 jobs amid a worsening global economic downturn. The company has instituted a voluntary redundancy program through which some staff reductions will be achieved.

AT&T Inc.: Telecommunications giant AT&T will cut 4 percent of its workforce in response to a decline in traditional phone sales. The company cites a changing business mix and the economic downturn as reasons for the job cuts.

Belden Inc.: A drop in demand for signal transmission products has led Belden, a maker of specialty wire, cable, and cord products for the electronics and electrical markets, to reduce its workforce by 20 percent. The job cuts will occur next year.