Merck Cuts Jobs Amid Cost-Cutting Initiative
Pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. has announced plans to lay off 54 workers at its Rahway headquarters, as part of a broader workforce reduction initiative aimed at saving $3 billion annually by the end of 2027.
The layoffs will occur in two phases: December 11, 2026, and January 4, 2027. This marks the latest step in Merck's restructuring effort, which was unveiled in July 2025 to cut costs and raise profits.
Since then, Merck has idled 350 employees, with a total of 6,149 layoffs reported since November 2003 under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. The company is focused on administrative, sales, and R&D positions, representing about 8% of its global workforce.
Merk's spokesperson emphasized that despite these reductions, the pharma remains committed to New Jersey, employing over 8,000 people in the state with investments totaling nearly $3 billion since 2018.