Boeing has announced it will lay off 396 employees at its facilities in Washington state, part of a larger effort to cut approximately 17,000 jobs globally, FOX Business reports.
The move follows a challenging year for the aerospace giant, marked by operational setbacks and financial pressures.
The 396 layoffs are part of a broader plan to reduce Boeing’s Washington state workforce by 2,199 employees over the coming months. The company currently employs over 60,000 people in the state. In addition to the layoffs in Washington, Boeing will reduce its workforce by around 200 employees at its locations in Oregon, South Carolina, and Missouri.
This reduction is part of a previously announced 10% global workforce cut aimed at aligning the company’s operations with current financial realities. Boeing revealed in October that it would be trimming its workforce by approximately 17,000 positions worldwide.
The layoffs will be implemented gradually. Boeing stated that “only a very small number” of affected employees will leave their positions in December, with the majority of departures occurring in mid-January. The company has pledged to support its departing employees by offering severance pay, career transition services, and subsidized health care benefits for up to three months after their exit.
Boeing’s decision comes in the wake of a turbulent year. In January, an incident involving an Alaska Airlines flight revealed that four bolts securing a door plug on a Boeing 737 Max 9 were missing, raising concerns about safety and manufacturing oversight. This was followed by a strike on the West Coast that forced Boeing to temporarily pause production of its top-selling 737 MAX jet.
“As previously announced, we are adjusting our workforce levels to align with our financial reality and a more focused set of priorities. We are committed to ensuring our employees have support during this challenging time,” Boeing said in a statement.
The company has also faced leadership changes, including the departure of its CEO, and ongoing scrutiny from regulators investigating its safety protocols.
Boeing’s actions are part of a larger restructuring strategy aimed at stabilizing its operations amid rising production costs, labor disputes, and safety concerns. For affected employees, the company is working to ease the transition process by offering resources for re-employment and continued health care support.
