Wisconsin employers cut about 700 jobs in January. State employment is at a record.

Posted by author February 3, 2025 Jobs

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Wisconsin employers cut about 700 jobs in January, compared with the same month in 2024 when nearly 1,900 workers were laid off.

In January, 711 people were either permanently or temporarily laid off from five companies according to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. The total number of laid off workers could be much higher because Kohl’s Corp. announced layoffs at its headquarters, but has not filed a official WARN notice.

A record number of jobs in Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s unemployment in December, the most recent data, was 3%, however 3,076,500 people were employed, continuing a trend of increasing employment in the state. For the last eight months, Wisconsin has set a new record for employment.

In the greater Milwaukee area, including Waukesha and West Allis, the unemployment rate was at 3% which is the same as it was a year ago, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Here are the companies that filed WARN notices with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development in January:

Genpact RW Services, Inc.

Genpact RW Services, a multi-national financial company headquartered in New York City, laid off 54 remote workers on Jan. 9. The layoffs are expected to begin on March 10.

Orbis Corp.

Orbis Corp., part of the Menasha Corp., is closing its facility in Menasha and impacting 109 jobs. The plastic and recycling company is closing a facility and moving the work to Texas. Some workers have been offered an opportunity to take jobs at the Texas facility.

The announcement was made on Jan. 15 and the layoffs are expected to begin on or about March 16.

SpartanNash

Grocery store chain, SpartanNash is closing its store (the “Lake Wissota Store”) in Lake Wissota in Chippewa County impacting 45 employees

The announcement was made on Jan. 15 and the layoffs are expected to begin on March 16.

Air Wisconsin Airlines, LLC

On Thursday, Air Wisconsin Airlines, LLC announced it could permanently laying off 219 workers and temporarily laying off 294 union employees. Layoffs are expected to begin on or around March 31 and impacts jobs at General Mitchell International Airport and Appleton International Airport.

The layoffs are a result of shifting operations and ending the partnership with American Airlines.

Kohl’s Corp.

Menomonee Falls retailer, Kohl’s Corp., has not officially filed a WARN notice with the state, however the company has said it is reducing the positions at its headquarters by roughly 10%.

The company, which has roughly 3,000 employees at its headquarters, said more than half the jobs were open positions that are now closed. Which means less than 200 workers were actually laid off.

Employees were notified on Jan. 28 and they were given two weeks pay plus a severance.