CINCINNATI — Hundreds of General Electric Aviation engineers are now out of a job, including more than 230 living in the Cincinnati area.
GE spokesman Rick Kennedy confirmed the layoffs to WCPO late Thursday morning. In total, 307 engineers were affected by the downsizing, with 238 living in Greater Cincinnati. The total reduction represents a 7 percent downsizing of GE Aviation's engineering team.
More than 3,000 aviation engineers will remain employed by GE in the area, Kennedy said, which he called "a historically high level."
In a statement, Kennedy said the layoffs do not indicate a decline in business, but "simply an issue of engine development programs that have been completed."
Kennedy said the company made a "significant effort" to retain as many engineers in other positions as those development programs came to completion.
The reduction is contrasted by those newly-developed engines projects entering the production phase, which has prompted the opening of eight new facilities in as many years across the U.S., including the new operations facility located at The Banks along Cincinnati's riverfront, according to Kennedy.
Kennedy said they will announce the layoffs at the end of January, and that the impacted engineers will receive severance benefits, outplacement and job fair services, and continued wages and medical coverage for a period of time based on length of employment with GE.
No other information was immediately available. Check back with WCPO for updates.
