### Boeing to Lay Off 220 Employees in Charleston Amid Broader Workforce Reduction

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. — The Boeing Company is set to reduce its workforce by 10%, resulting in approximately 17,000 job cuts across various locations, including the layoff of 220 employees in Charleston. This significant reduction is scheduled to take effect on January 17, 2025.

According to recent reports, the job cuts will affect over 2,500 workers in states such as Washington, Oregon, Missouri, and South Carolina. The precise number of impacted employees was not disclosed by Boeing on Tuesday morning, but the planned reduction outlines a substantial cut in its overall workforce.

In a statement to News 2, Boeing affirmed its commitment to supporting employees during this transition period. "As previously announced, we are adjusting our workforce levels to align with our financial reality and a more focused set of priorities," the company noted. The spokesperson for Boeing South Carolina added that most employees were informed of their layoffs the prior week, with their employment ending in mid-January. The company also indicated that the layoffs would involve attrition and prioritizing backfills for essential business roles.

For those affected, Boeing has arranged severance packages, career transition support, and subsidized health care benefits for up to three months post-separation. As of January 2024, the Boeing South Carolina site employed 7,864 individuals, with workforce numbers being updated annually.

Boeing has struggled financially following the tragic crashes of two 737 Max jetliners in 2018 and 2019, which resulted in the loss of 346 lives. Although a strike earlier in the year added to the company's financial burdens, CEO Kelly Ortberg clarified in an October call with analysts that the layoffs were due to overstaffing rather than the strike's impact.