Laboratory device manufacturer Agilent Technologies, headquartered in Santa Clara, is set to lay off 184 employees across California in a move that reflects the broader economic challenges faced by the life sciences industry. The company revealed the workforce reduction in a recent state filing.
The layoffs, effective August 9th, will impact various departments, including sales, finance, human resources, legal, and manufacturing. While the cuts represent approximately 3 percent of Agilent’s global workforce of 18,000, they signify a strategic response to a market recovery that has been slower than anticipated.
Agilent plans to eliminate a total of 184 positions, with the majority (156) coming from its Santa Clara headquarters, and the remaining cuts spread across its San Diego (17), Folsom (4), and Carpinteria (7) locations.
A company spokesperson emphasized the difficult nature of the decision, explaining, “Agilent made the difficult decision to reduce the workforce by 3 percent to adjust to the pace of recovery in the market and to reinvest in areas of strategic importance that drive value for our customers.”
This move follows Agilent’s fiscal second-quarter results, which saw revenue decline 8.4 percent year-over-year to $1.57 billion. CEO Padraig McDonnell acknowledged the slower-than-expected recovery in a statement last month but expressed optimism about the future. “We are taking decisive action to streamline our cost structure and capture incremental opportunities in the markets as they recover. I’m confident about the future and extremely excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for Agilent,” McDonnell stated.
Agilent’s decision to reduce its workforce aligns with a broader trend in the biotech sector, where companies like Genentech, Sanofi, and BioMarin have also recently announced job cuts. This wave of layoffs underscores the industry’s ongoing adjustment to evolving market dynamics and the pursuit of sustainable growth in an increasingly competitive landscape.
As Agilent navigates these challenges, its focus remains on strategic reinvestment and innovation to maintain its position as a leading provider of laboratory equipment and solutions to customers in over 110 countries.
