Dow to cut 2500 jobs in Corning merger

Dow Chemical will slash 2500 jobs (about 4% of its global workforce) and close silicones manufacturing facilities in Greensboro, US, and Yamakita, Japan, as it takes full control of former joint venture Dow Corning. This integration is part of Dow’s ongoing preparation to merge with DuPont.

Dow anticipates making these reductions over the next two years, and will also shut down other administrative, corporate and manufacturing facilities in an effort to ‘further enhance its competitiveness and streamline costs’.

Separately, in May 2015, Dow announced plans to reduce its global workforce by roughly 3% over a two-year period, cutting up to 1750 jobs as part of an effort to streamline and prepare for the spinoff of its chlorine business.

DuPont is also restructuring ahead of the merger, with a plan to lay off around 5400 staff (10% its global workforce), including major cuts to its R&D centre in Delaware, US.