MilliporeSigma, the St. Louis arm of Merck KGaA’s life-science business, is weighing a plan that could shift some customer service work from the city to Costa Rica. The potential shakeup has local employees and economic development watchers on edge as they wait to learn how many St. Louis jobs could be on the chopping block. Company leaders say the review is still underway and that no final decisions have been made.
Company confirms review of customer service roles
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, a MilliporeSigma spokesperson said the company is considering cuts to St. Louis-based customer service positions and is exploring a move of some of those functions to Costa Rica. The spokesperson did not say how many roles might be affected or offer a timetable, and emphasized that the review is ongoing. The Post-Dispatch story ran on April 2, 2026.
MilliporeSigma’s footprint in St. Louis
MilliporeSigma operates several research, manufacturing and support sites in the St. Louis region as part of the life-science division of Merck KGaA, which does business as MilliporeSigma in the United States and Canada, according to Merck. Its North American operations provide reagents, lab services and bioprocessing tools used by researchers and manufacturers around the country, a role that has helped make MilliporeSigma a prominent employer in St. Louis’s biotech scene.
Why Costa Rica is in the mix
Many companies shift customer service and back-office work to nearshore hubs like Costa Rica in search of lower costs along with overlapping time zones, language skills and operational continuity. Costa Rica markets itself as a stable base for shared services and business process outsourcing, according to CINDE. Site selection experts have flagged Costa Rica as a leading nearshore destination for contact centers and shared services as nearshoring has picked up across the 2020s, according to Site Selection Group.
Unanswered questions for workers and the city
Key details remain unclear, including how many positions in St. Louis could be affected and when any changes might kick in. The company and local officials have not laid out a timeline, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Employees in potentially impacted roles, along with St. Louis economic-development staff, are waiting for formal notice about any cuts and information on possible transition or outplacement support. This story will be updated as MilliporeSigma releases more details.
