Boeing cuts 517 jobs in Washington in May

Published 5:24 pm Monday, June 1, 2009

The Boeing Co. shed 517 jobs in Washington state last month as it tries to trim its workforce by 6 percent this year.

Since the beginning of the year, Boeing has cut 3,617 jobs across the company with 2,657 jobs lost in this state.

Boeing has said it wants to reduce its workforce by 10,000 positions in an effort to keep costs in line in a tough economy. At least 4,500 jobs will be lost in the commercial airplanes division, based here in Washington. But that number could grow, given that Boeing will slow production of its 777 next year.

Last October, Boeing’s employment in Washington peaked at 76,869. Boeing has slashed 3,109 positions since then through layoffs, attrition and by letting go contract workers.