Factory fallout: Manufacturing plant closures and layoffs from Intel, Hasbro, Johnsonville, and more
With political winds changing and global markets tightening, manufacturers are making tough decisions—and workers are feeling the impact. In this roundup, we chronicle the closures and cutbacks reverberating throughout the manufacturing sector. As uncertainty becomes the new normal, we examine how businesses and workers alike are navigating a rapidly changing industrial landscape.
According to Fierce Biotech, Gilead Sciences, a pharmaceutical company, is laying off 36 employees as part of a strategic shift that ended plans to expand its biologics facility in Oceanside, California. The company is relocating most biologics roles from Oceanside to its Foster City site, aiming to complete the transition by 2027. In a recent quote, a Gilead spokesperson said, “This includes transitioning most of our Gilead Biologics roles, most of which are currently in Oceanside, to Foster City. The goal is to have this transition completed by 2027 at the latest.” The layoffs reflect Gilead’s effort to co-locate biologics development and manufacturing with its R&D teams.
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According to The Oregonian, Intel, a leading semiconductor manufacturer, plans to lay off between 15% and 20% of its factory workforce beginning in July, impacting facilities around the world, with a particularly significant effect expected in Oregon, home to 20,000 Intel employees. The cuts could result in several thousand job losses, potentially exceeding 10,000, as part of broader efforts to address declining sales and intensifying market competition. In a recent quote, Naga Chandrasekaran, Intel manufacturing Vice President, said, “These are difficult actions but essential to meet our affordability challenges and current financial position of the company. It drives pain to every individual.” The company will base layoffs on investment priorities, skill assessments, and operational impact, without offering voluntary buyouts.
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According to Investopedia, Hasbro, the maker of Monopoly and Nerf, has laid off approximately 3% of its global workforce as rising tariffs increase production costs. The layoffs affect about 150 employees across multiple departments and global regions. Employees were informed of the job cuts on Monday, but the company did not specify the exact locations impacted. Hasbro has not responded to requests for comment regarding the layoffs.
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According to ABC7 Chicago, Johnsonville Foods, a sausage manufacturer, abruptly closed its Momence, Illinois facility, resulting in the loss of 274 jobs. The plant, a longstanding employer in the community for over 60 years, was shut down with immediate effect, surprising both workers and local officials. In a recent quote, Johnsonville Foods said, "We made the difficult decision after evaluating how best to optimize our operations network to address current and future growth. This decision was based on optimizing our operations across our other newer facilities." The company stated it will continue to pay and provide benefits to affected employees for 60 days.
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According to WeAreGreenBay.com, Wisconsin-based manufacturer HyPro, Inc. will permanently close its facility at 546 S. Industrial Park Drive in Berlin, resulting in the layoff of 24 employees. The impacted staff includes four salaried and 20 hourly workers, with layoffs expected to begin around August 16, 2025. Company officials attributed the closure to unforeseen circumstances and a decision to consolidate operations. The affected employees are not represented by a union, and bumping rights do not apply.
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