Coastal North Carolina is feeling the sting of a statewide spike in layoffs, as regional employers across multiple industries cut staff.
In Wilmington, the transportation sector took a hit as Avelo Airlines shuttered its local crew base, eliminating over eighty positions. In a statement, officials said the closure — one of many nationwide — is part of a strategic network simplification. While reducing nonstop routes from 17 to four, the airline maintains that this move strengthens its financial position and focuses operations on core markets.
In Tarboro, Corning Incorporated announced a restructuring that will impact more than 120 workers. Corning said it is transitioning the operation of its Life Sciences North America Hub in Tarboro to Ryder, meaning Ryder will take over the day-to-day management and running of the facility. The site itself will remain open and continue to distribute Corning Life Sciences products, but Ryder—a company specializing in logistics—will be in charge of managing everything at the location. Most employees will likely keep working at the facility, but their employer will change from Corning to Ryder. Corning will continue to lease the site, but Ryder will direct the operations and offer employees new opportunities within its company
Further inland, the regional healthcare system is tightening its belt. Greenville-based ECU Health and its partner Access East cut over thirty positions following the wind-down of a state Medicaid pilot program. Greenville is also bracing for the closure of Focus Services, which will leave nearly one hundred people without work by the end of April.
Even small-town infrastructure is at risk. In Chocowinity, the town recently voted to eliminate its EMS services due to budget constraints, leaving four full-time and thirty part-time employees facing unemployment this July.
