Layoffs May Worsen if Economic Growth Doesn't Pick Up By: CNBC.com News July 29, 2011 at 15:25 PM EDT Thousands of layoffs were announced in just the past week, and that trend could continue if economic growth does not start to pick up speed. Related Stocks: Cisco Systems Credit Suisse Group ADR Goldman Sachs Group HSBC Holdings Plc ADR Lockheed Martin Merck & Co