In Boeing layoffs, defense business will see only small cut

By Marjorie Censer / May 28, 2020 at 1:42 PM

As Boeing announced this week involuntary layoffs for nearly 6,800 U.S. employees after completing a voluntary layoff program for about 5,500 workers, a company spokesman said the defense and space business is providing stability for the company and will continue hiring.

The defense unit will see fewer than 400 voluntary layoffs and fewer than 100 involuntary ones.

A Boeing spokesman said the numbers announced this week "represent the largest segment of layoffs."

"The remaining layoffs will come in much smaller additional waves over the next few months," he added. "While the deeper reductions are in areas that are most exposed to the condition of our commercial customers, the ongoing stability of our defense, space and related services businesses will help us limit overall impact, and we will continue hiring talent to support critical programs and meet our customers’ evolving needs."

207711