Arizona Job Market Sees Layoffs in Multiple Sectors

PHOENIX – Arizona’s job market experienced growth in May, but a series of layoffs have been announced by major employers across teh state.As of mid-june, 18 companies have declared layoffs impacting 100 or more employees, primarily in the Phoenix metropolitan area adn southern Arizona.

According to the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity, these large employers have announced a total of 5,750 job cuts in Arizona through june 15.

Companies typically disclose layoffs through Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notices. While most employers did not respond to requests for additional details, several are outsourcing or staffing firms that appear to have lost contracts or experienced funding reductions.

“The losses are tied to federal funding cutbacks.”

Companies Announcing Layoffs

Nikola Corp.: Bankruptcy Leads to Job Cuts

Nikola Corp., an electric and hydrogen-powered heavy truck manufacturer, filed two WARN reports in February, announcing plans to lay off 855 Arizona employees due to bankruptcy. Approximately 540 workers were affected at Nikola’s Phoenix headquarters, located south of Sky Harbor International Airport, and 315 at its 670,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Coolidge. As of December 2022, the company reported nearly 1,500 employees, primarily in Arizona.

Lucid, another electric-vehicle maker, later acquired some of Nikola’s assets, including the two facilities, and offered jobs to around 300 former Nikola employees.

Deployed Resources: Logistics Company reduces Staff

Deployed Resources, a company providing temporary facilities and logistical management services for disasters, special events, and government needs, issued a WARN notice in March for 700 positions in Yuma. The company’s clients include the Department of Defense and FEMA, and its services range from meal planning to laundry and shower facilities.

“Nikola Corp. …laying off 855 Arizona workers as the company entered bankruptcy.”

Arizona Department of Economic Security: Workforce Agency Cuts Jobs

The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES), responsible for WARN announcements and social welfare programs, announced its own job reductions in june. The initial declaration cited 500 expected job losses, which was later revised to 467 in the agency’s WARN report.

These cuts are attributed to federal funding reductions and will impact the agency’s ability to assist lower-income Arizonans in assessing eligibility for benefits such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program). DES, one of the state’s largest agencies, had a workforce of approximately 9,000 employees at the time of the announcement.

Joann: Crafts Retailer Closes Stores

Joann, a national retailer of fabrics, sewing supplies, and craft materials, announced its intention to lay off 374 Arizona workers in march as it closed its remaining stores following two bankruptcy filings. The Ohio-based company, formerly known as jo-Ann Stores, operated over 800 stores nationwide. Some of its intellectual property assets and private-label brands were acquired by Michaels Cos., a large chain specializing in crafts and frames.

RWTL Capacity Solutions: Cutbacks in Northern Arizona Trucking

RWTL Capacity Solutions, a heavy truck leasing company, announced in June that it was laying off 368 workers in Kingman, one of its four national facilities. Headquartered in Oklahoma City,the company leases class-8 trucks and offers customers the option to purchase the vehicles. RWTL’s other locations are in Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri.

Meyer Burger Americas: Job Reductions at Solar-Panel Company

Meyer Burger americas announced 335 layoffs at its Goodyear location in May. The U.S.unit of Switzerland’s Meyer burger supplies solar panels designed in switzerland but manufactured in Germany.

Microchip technology: Semiconductor Maker Shuts tempe Plant

Microchip Technology, a major corporation headquartered in arizona, announced in early March its intention to lay off 330 people, primarily at its manufacturing facility at 1200 S.52nd St. in Tempe. This cost-cutting measure is expected to save the company around $90 million annually. Microchip also announced layoffs of 2,000 people in Oregon, Colorado, and the Philippines. Microchip remains a notable Arizona employer with over 1,800 workers, down from approximately 2,300 last year.

albertsons Cos.: cuts at Safeway Supermarket Chain

Albertsons Cos. laid off 225 Safeway administrative employees at an office at 20427 N. 27th Ave. in January. The company operates around 130 supermarkets under the Albertsons and Safeway banners in Arizona. This was followed by a second round of layoffs in early June, affecting an undisclosed number of workers. Albertsons had planned a merger with Kroger, which operates Fry’s Food Stores in Arizona, until a federal judge and another in Washington state blocked the deal.

DLP Services: Yuma Janitorial Company Shrinks

DLP Services announced in March that it would lay off 218 people in Yuma. The company provides janitorial, staffing, rental, facilities-maintenance, and construction services. All six of its other offices are located in Texas.

U.S. Cellular Corp: Mobile Phone Merger Triggers cutbacks

U.S. Cellular Corp announced layoffs of 205 Arizona employees in a May WARN alert, without specifying their locations. T-Mobile announced its pending purchase of substantially all U.S.Cellular wireless operations, customer accounts, and stores that month. U.S. Cellular announced 4,100 layoffs nationwide.

iQor Holdings U.S.: tempe Call Center Jobs Reduced

Call-center operator iQor Holdings U.S. announced 148 layoffs at its Tempe office in May, due to a non-renewed contract. The company provides outsourced customer-experience services, including analytics, artificial intelligence, and human interaction. The company is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Adams & Associates: Job Reduction at Training-Services Firm

Adams & Associates announced 143 Phoenix layoffs in june. The company provides training and education services, case management, and workforce progress, primarily connected to state or federal programs. The company has offices in Reno, Nevada, and Columbia, Maryland.

Human Learning Systems LLC: Workforce-Assistance Company Cuts Staff

Atlanta-based Human Learning Systems LLC announced 124 Tucson layoffs in June. The company provides youth-centered education assistance, including career transitions and Job Corps training.

Berger Logistics: Austrian Supply-Chain Firm Announces Layoffs

Berger Logistics,a U.S. unit of an Austrian company, announced 121 layoffs in Phoenix in April. The company provides customized transportation and logistical services, storage, supply-chain management, and support for special events.

District Medical Group: Medical Job Reductions in Phoenix

Phoenix-based District Medical Group announced in April that it would lay off 118 people. The nonprofit medical employer said it provides all major medical and surgical specialties and subspecialties,with nearly 1,000 credentialed employees on staff.

Tilson technology Management: Bankruptcy Spurs Telecom Cutbacks

Tilson Technology Management announced layoffs involving 117 employees in chandler in May. The data-infrastructure company designs, builds, and maintains telecommunication networks. It initiated a voluntary Chapter 11 reorganization that same month. Tilson is based in Portland, Maine, and employs nearly 1,000 people nationally.

General Dynamics Information Technology: Reductions at Defense Contractor

General Dynamics Information Technology, a unit of the defense contractor, announced in March that it would lay off 110 people. The IT unit provides technical and professional services involving IT, cloud, cybersecurity, and other areas to the U.S.government and the defense and intelligence industries. General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, remains a large Arizona employer.

Luke Holdings inc.: Staffing Company Shrinks Workforce

Luke Holdings Inc. announced three layoffs totaling 107 Arizona jobs in February.The largest involved 54 positions in Yuma, followed by 34 in Tucson and 19 in Nogales. the Florida-based company provides healthcare-staffing services for the federal government, including mental-health caregiving.

HelloFresh: A False Alarm

One of the largest layoff announcements this year turned out to be inaccurate.

Manpower Inc.,a staffing agency working with meal provider HelloFresh,issued a misleading WARN alert on jan. 27, indicating layoffs of 564 employees at HelloFresh’s 300,000-square-foot facility at 14170 W. Yuma Rd. in Goodyear.

HelloFresh later clarified that it had no plans to lay off staff at the industrial kitchen.

Workers at the plant, previously employed through Manpower, were given the opportunity to remain on assignment at the facility and transition their employment through another staffing partner.

“We have no plans to close our Arizona facility and are proud to be a part of the Goodyear community,” said Abby Dreher, a HelloFresh spokesperson, at the time. The company’s Arizona workforce has been growing.

By Amelia Stone | PHOENIX – 2025/06/21 15:29:59