#northcarolina

The YMCA of Greater Charlotte announced staff layoffs. This action is part of a restructuring for financial sustainability. A limited number of positions across the association were impacted. The organization's revenue decreased by 26% since 2019. Membership levels have not recovered to pre-pandemic numbers.

Charlotte, North Carolina

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article315280372.html

Epic Games is cutting over 1,000 jobs across the company. This decision follows a decline in user engagement for Fortnite. CEO Tim Sweeney stated the company is spending significantly more than it earns. Industry-wide challenges also contribute to the financial situation. The layoffs are part of broader cost reductions exceeding $500 million.

Cary, North Carolina

https://www.carolinajournal.com/cary-based-epic-games-cuts-20-of-employees-after-fortnite-slump/

Gaston County Commissioners approved a $10 million transfer to Gaston County Schools. This funding aims to prevent 400 potential layoffs within the school district. Superintendent Morgen Houchard stated the district faced a $10 million budget shortfall. Factors included reduced state funds, inflation, and lost federal pandemic relief. Commissioners expressed frustration but deemed the funding necessary to support schools.

https://www.wunc.org/2026-03-25/gaston-county-gives-schools-10-million-to-prevent-layoffs

AmeriPark will lay off 188 workers. The company lost its parking operations contract at Charlotte Douglas Airport. ACE Parking secured the new annual contract. ACE will begin managing airport parking on July 1. Some laid-off employees might be hired by the new operator.

Charlotte, North Carolina

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article315153505.html

Family Dollar will close its Matthews distribution center. The closure is planned for this summer. A WARN report indicates 373 employees will be laid off. Dollar Tree acquired Family Dollar and faced operational difficulties. Consumer spending has also tightened at bargain chains.

Matthews, North Carolina

https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/business/family-dollar-mass-layoffs-matthews-north-carolina-distribution-center/275-b53b5f5e-18cc-4584-899a-92f491c1c895

Prepac Manufacturing is shutting down its Whitsett, N.C. facility. This closure will result in approximately 200 employee layoffs. The company filed a WARN notice for layoffs effective May 2. Prepac cited high domestic production costs and global competition. The plant was named a key U.S. hub just last year.

https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/local/prepac-furniture-to-lay-off-200-workers-at-whitsett-location/83-92b05356-1802-42f4-b304-ab931e5c0739

Merck & Co. is laying off 154 employees at its Durham, North Carolina facility. The company is ending production of Gardasil and Gardasil 9 at the site. This decision stems from a recent worldwide reduction in demand for the vaccine. The job cuts are scheduled to take effect on May 1. Merck continuously evaluates its business and adjusts operations as needed.

https://www.fiercepharma.com/manufacturing/merck-lay-nearly-150-staffers-research-triangle-area-vaccine-plant

Corning Inc. is outsourcing a distribution center. Ryder will operate this facility. The center is located in Eastern North Carolina. It spans 780,000 square feet. Corning Inc. is also expanding other operations within the state.

https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2026/02/24/corning-inc-edgecombe-facility-layoffs-ryder.html

Eighty-one jobs are being cut at Firestone Fibers and Textiles, affecting its manufacturing sites in Gastonia and Kings Mountain. The layoffs were disclosed in a North Carolina WARN filing.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/charlotte-area-textile-company-cuts-202420931.html

Home improvement retailer Lowe’s (LOW.N) is cutting roughly 600 corporate and support positions, accounting for under 1% of its overall workforce, in an effort to prioritize staffing and resources at its stores.

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/2026/02/13/lowes-cuts-corporate-and-support-roles-to-focus-on-store-employees/88667837007/

oyd Corp. plans to close its Monroe plant. This closure is scheduled for 2026. The company will lay off 63 employees. The first layoffs will begin in April. The Union County facility has operated for decades.

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2026/02/12/layoffs-boyd-corp-monroe-plant-jobs-union-county.html

Dozens of workers are facing layoffs at two facilities located in Gaston. The specific companies affected by these job reductions were not explicitly named in the provided headline. This event signifies a significant workforce reduction impacting employees in the Gaston area. The headline indicates that a notable number of individuals will lose their jobs. Further details regarding the reasons for these layoffs were not available.

https://www.aol.com/articles/dozens-workers-two-gaston-facilities-100532669.html

A manufacturing facility in McDowell County recently laid off employees. Approximately 90 workers were affected by the job cuts. Baxter North Cove operates this facility. These layoffs represent 3% of the company's workforce. The company produces medical products like intravenous solutions.

https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/2026/02/10/mcdowell-county-nc-company-baxter-north-cove-lays-off-90-employees/88591480007/

North Carolina saw an increase in initial unemployment claims last week. The U.S. Department of Labor reported this data. Claims rose to 3,404 for the week ending January 31. This was up from 3,294 claims the previous week. National unemployment claims also increased last week.

https://www.fayobserver.com/story/news/2026/02/07/unemployment-numbers/88527060007/

“Wells Fargo said the layoffs are occurring at its office on Corporate Center Drive in West Raleigh. It declined to say if it is closing that location.”

https://amp.newsobserver.com/news/business/article314592734.html

North Carolina saw a decline in initial unemployment benefit filings last week. The U.S. Department of Labor reported this data on Thursday. New jobless claims in the state fell to 3,224. This figure is down from 3,930 the previous week. Nationally, U.S. unemployment claims also decreased to 209,000.

https://www.fayobserver.com/story/news/2026/01/31/unemployment-numbers/88413557007

Greenville, North Carolina, January 2026:

Access East, a Greenville-based healthcare non-profit, is laying off employees. Thirty-one positions will be cut starting March 31st. This reduction stems from a shift in state funding. North Carolina’s "Healthy Opportunities Pilot" program lost government support last June. Access East coordinates care for Medicaid recipients and the uninsured in Eastern North Carolina.

https://www.publicradioeast.org/2026-01-28/employees-at-enc-healthcare-non-profit-facing-layoffs-as-state-funding-dries-up

The Burke County Board of Education revoked "special media access" for The Paper, a local newspaper. This action followed a Dec. 6 article about a projected $4.5 million budget deficit and potential layoffs. Superintendent Mike Swan stated the article caused staff uproar and denied layoff discussions. The newspaper's reporter and editor, Jacob Christopher and Angela Copeland, stand by their reporting. Legal counsel for The Paper views the revocation as potential retaliation against free press rights.

https://carolinapublicpress.org/74286/burke-county-schools-announce-revocation-of-special-media-access-for-newspaper/

Supposedly some former and current managers in North Carolina have spilled the beans on the best of belk awards which usually transpires in March or April. Of course the specific qualifications for the award are still unclear to most associates, and it appears the awards are based on politics and favoritism, which is illegal and can be construed as workplace discrimination. Of course Belk corporate claimed the awards were no different than ‘employee of the month’ but some claim that extra discounts, gratis and other small perks that are given only to select associates are discriminatory and possibly illegal.

UNC-Chapel Hill Seeks $25 Million in Administrative Cuts

UNC-Chapel Hill leaders are requesting budget changes. They target $25 million in administrative cuts. These cuts should be implemented by summer. Layoffs are still a potential outcome. This decision impacts university administration.

https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2026/01/23/unc-chapel-hill-budget-cuts-administrative-staff.html

https://www.axios.com/local/charlotte/2026/01/16/bank-america-wells-fargo-ai-job-cuts

AAR Corp has confirmed layoffs in its operations, though it hasn’t said how many workers were affected. The job cuts are tied to the Triad region in North Carolina.

Union has agreed to drop maintenance manning to zero this is not good for the future of the plant

Any word on North Carolina employees and what departments are getting hit?

Company: Tryon Palace
Source: WITN

State confirms layoffs at Tryon Palace
Summary: North Carolina’s Department of Natural and Cultural Resources confirmed that around 20 part-time historic interpreters at Tryon Palace were laid off in October due to budget constraints. Leadership said holiday programming would continue despite staffing changes.
City: New Bern
State: North Carolina
https://www.witn.com/2025/11/08/state-confirms-layoffs-tryon-palace/

Laying off 300

• RTI International cut 120 jobs Thursday, including 75 in North Carolina.
• Federal funding declines dropped NIH grants from $397M in 2024 to $59M in 2025.
• RTI workforce shrank 35% in 2025, affecting over 400 North Carolina employees.

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article312166964.html

Lots of folks have heard rumors that the folks in the Wooten bldg are moving to the Forest Hills bldg. They have even gotten rid of their daytime cleaning crew. I thought they were revamping that bldg. what happened? They certainly haven’t done anything to the Forest Hills one. Slap some purple paint on a wall and call it a day. Will they revamp the Forest Hills bldg if we are all under one roof?

Any update on the remaining 200+ employees at the West End Center?