Will Follow Deep Job Cuts This Year

Boeing is looking at the possibility of fewer airliner orders coming into the company in 2017, and will be adjusting its workforce to match, according to an internal company memo.

Bloomberg reports that the memo came Monday from Boeing Vice Chairman Ray Conner and Kevin McAllister, chief executive officer of the jetliner unit. The two executives said that the planemaker will shed about eight percent of the workforce in its largest division compared to January by the end of this year ... an estimated 6,600 jobs.

The memo went on to say that the company "will continue to reduce the size of our workforce next year." While Conner and McAllister said that some of those cuts will come from attrition, "we may also need to use involuntary layoffs."

The company has not given a specific number of jobs that may be cut in 2017. Boeing is "working aggressively" to trim other costs, according to the memo. As many as 10 percent of Boeing's executives and managers have been shed as well.

Boeing plans to reduce production of the 777 to five per month in August 2017. Airbus has also announced workforce reductions as the industry prepares for a possible down cycle.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.boeing.com