Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Elizabeth Baier
Rochester, Minn.

IBM job cuts clip Rochester, again

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
IBM
Rochester's IBM campus employs around 2,500 people.
MPR Photo/Sea Stachura

Another round of layoffs has hit the IBM workforce in Rochester.

IBM officials do not comment on cuts. But Lee Conrad, national coordinator for the labor group Alliance@IBM, estimates several dozen Rochester jobs were lost in the latest reductions.

The company reported 4,000 employees in Rochester in 2008, the most recent official count. Conrad says the Rochester workforce is now more likely between 2,500 and 2,800 employees.

"Morale is pretty much at rock bottom inside IBM," Conrad said. "Everyone knows the company's in trouble and they need to make some fixes. But they're firing the people that can help fix the company, and that's just unacceptable."

For decades, the Minnesota facility has manufactured products from personal computers to network equipment. But in recent years, the company has downsized its workforce. In 2013, IBM moved some of its Minnesota operations to New York and Mexico. Last year, IBM leaders laid off more workers in Rochester.

Conrad said employees at the Rochester operations may not know until next week how many jobs were cut. He foresees the day when the company might shutter the plant completely. "They've done it at other sites ... it can happen anywhere," he said.

As IBM's Rochester workforce shrinks, the company has more empty space on its 82-acre campus and other companies like Hitachi and Charter Communications have started contracting office space in the facility.

Nationwide, union officials estimate IBM has about 80,000 employees, down from roughly 280,000 in the mid-1980s.