Jobs To Come From Wichita, KS, And Puget Sound, WA

Boeing says it will relocate approximately 800 – 900 engineering and program support jobs from Wichita, Kan. and Puget Sound, Wash., to Oklahoma City by the end of 2013. The B-52, C-32, C-40, E-4B and VC-25 programs will now be supported at Boeing Oklahoma City, which will have approximately 2,000 employees when the transition is complete. The company said it was re-assigning the jobs "in order to remain cost competitive and meet its customers’ needs."

This announcement came when Boeing announced the closure of its Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) facility in Wichita. The jobs from that facility will be placed in both Oklahoma City and San Antonio. “Boeing and Oklahoma City have a long and successful history, and our competitive business climate meets their operational needs,” said Roy Williams, president and CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. “We have been working with Boeing over the course of many months to understand their business objectives, and we are ready to help them grow.”

Boeing looked at several markets before making its decision. Oklahoma City’s competitive incentives were critical to its selection for these positions. The 21st Century Quality Jobs is particularly attractive for companies bringing highly-paid workers to Oklahoma.

“We are in an economic environment where companies are making cuts to stay competitive and meet customer demand,” said Williams. “Oklahoma City has maintained a strong business climate and a cost environment that allows companies to be successful.”

While the details of the relocation have not yet been finalized, The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber plans to work closely with Boeing to make the transition as smooth as possible.

FMI: www.boeing.com