Salina (WSYR-TV) – Lockheed Martin conducted its most recent wave of layoffs on Thursday. A total of 227 are losing their jobs nationwide, 89 positions were lost at the plant’s Salina facility.
The layoffs were announced in March. The majority were drawn from the company’s engineering pool.
A company spokesman said that the layoffs reflects shifts in the industry.
“The changes affecting our industry reflect the challenging economic environment and budget constraints on our military customers that have resulted in revised acquisition strategies and scaled-back support for some programs,” said company spokesman Troy Scully. “As a result, Lockheed Martin Mission Systems & Sensors notified 227 employees across its business on May 5 that they would be laid off. Most employees will exit the business May 19.”
Economists believe the industry could be in for a tough year.
“Manufacturing and the government are the weakest at this point,” said Department of Labor Associate Economist Karen Knapik-Scalzo.
Both are at all-time lows in Central New York. The manufacturing sector now has 1,100 fewer positions than last year.
“Manufacturing in general has been in a long-term decline in the Syracuse area,” said Knapik-Scalzo.
Despite the fact that Central New York has added 2,200 jobs in various areas other than manufacturing, the economic recovery has been slow.
