Make wishtv.com your home page

Caterpillar and Fairfield announce layoffs

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) – Two large employers in Lafayette are laying off some of their workforce. News 18 has learned that both Caterpillar, Inc. and Oerlikon Fairfield will be reducing their staff.

Caterpillar, Inc. confirmed to WISH-TV sister station WLFI News the company is planning to reduce employment at its Lafayette plant by 50 full-time production employees and around 200 agency workers between now and June.

Employees at the plant were notified of the layoffs Wednesday.

Caterpillar cites a decrease in orders for engines that support the oil and gas industry as the reason.

Oerlikon Fairfield will be letting go of 35 full-time employees, effective Friday.

The company employs approximately one thousand people at their US headquarters in Lafayette.

A company representative tells News 18 that general business conditions were the cause of the layoffs.