In an ongoing adjustment to its workforce levels, Boeing has announced the impending layoff of 396 employees across various locations in Washington state. The latest notice, shared with Washington’s Employment Security Department today, lists the impacted employees in cities including Bremerton, Auburn, Everett, and others. According to FOX 13 Seattle, these employees will be parting ways with Boeing by Feb. 21, 2025.

Earlier comments from Boeing, aimed at explaining these layoffs, mentioned the company's effort to align workforce levels with its current "financial reality and a more focused set of priorities." As reported by Reuters, this follows the company's recent closing of a $24.3-billion equity offering to maintain its finances and investment-grade credit rating. November's notice revealed plans for over 2,500 layoffs across Washington, Oregon, South Carolina, and Missouri. Most of these cuts come from Washington state, home to most of Boeing’s workforce and the production hub for its commercial jets.

The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) has confirmed the layoffs have affected over 600 members. Nevertheless, machinists represented by IAM District 751 have been spared from these job cuts. This group of machinists, whose work centers around some of the company’s most lucrative jet models, were not affected despite a recent strike that inflicted significant financial damage on Boeing. According to KING 5, S&P Global estimated the strike could have cost the company as much as $1 billion a month, with manufacturing lines coming largely to a standstill.

Boeing has been navigating turbulent financial waters for several years, with two fatal jet crashes in 2018 linked to its autopilot systems marking the start of this challenging period. This year, a door plug blowout incident added to the woes, contributing to the company's financial strain. If the company's credit rating is downgraded to junk status, which is under threat, Boeing's financial situation could become more precarious, hence the decision to reduce its workforce in a strategic attempt to stabilize operations.