Another 5,000 lay-offs: Is this the beginning of the end for U.S. meat empire?

Workers in the food production sector are being forced to look for new jobs after a series of redundancies at one of the nation’s biggest chains.

Tyson Foods is the biggest processor of meat in the United States and has been in business for 90 years. Last yearTyson Foods ranked No. 81 in the Fortune 500 list of the largest companies in the US by revenue. But in recent years there have been major staffing cuts.

USA Today has reported that more than 5,000 workers have been laid off in the latest round of redundancies at Tyson. This follows a cut of 7,700 jobs in March 2023 and another 800-person factory shutting last year.

The impact is often confined to certain areas, where the Tyson factors can be a major economic hub for towns. When the company closed a pork plant in Perry, Iowa in 2024 the town lost 25% of its working-age jobs.

In general terms the demand for meat in the United States has not dropped significantly. However meat processing plants are becoming increasingly streamlined with machines, robotics and artificial intelligence now allowing companies to dispense with human workers more easily. But while that frees up money for the processors there is little evidence to suggest that it will be used for new expansion.

Last year parent company Emporia was criticized for the closing of meat processing plants. In response, they promised to collaboration with local officials to help those who had been laid off and to assure existing staff that the financial position was solid.

“While we recognize the challenges this closure presents, Emporia’s economy remains stable and resilient,” the Emporia statement said. “We aim to attract and retain strong and diversified industr[ies] that will provide growth and prosperity for our residents.”

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