Job performance is no better than 4th on the list of items considered in
downsizing. Politics is first. Who like you, who protects you. Being
unknown is good too. If you've tried to change things for the better
odds are someone doesn't like you.  Salary is next, the more you make the
more of a target you are. What work is there to do? Do you fit in with
that work? Another thing is being female or minority or someone who has
some way of suing. If you can sue, then they'll be careful.

Basically job performance isn't really much of a consideration when
downsizing occurs. It's so far down the list that if job performance is
your best asset, you'll get downsized.

I've survived downsizings, I've been downsized. I've watched good
performers go and slackers stay. I've been downsized while the people
whom I fixed their screw ups stayed. You can't tell anything of
someone's performance by them being downsized out of a job or jumping
ship while expecting it.

I'd be more suspect of someone who was never downsized but
consistantly worked at companies where it was a reality because I would
think they were some sort of ass-kissing-know-nothing-yes-man rather
than a performer.