Merck Trims Payroll Again with Latest Round of Layoffs
Pharmaceutical giant Merck has announced another round of layoffs in New Jersey. The company, which has its headquarters in Rahway, plans to cut 54 positions between December 11, 2026, and January 4, 2027. This is part of a larger workforce reduction that was first announced in July 2025, where Merck said it would eliminate 6,000 jobs worldwide as it aims to reduce annual expenses by $3 billion by the end of 2027.
The latest round of layoffs is not the first time this year that the company's Rahway campus has been impacted. In June, Merck announced 88 layoffs, with the cuts just becoming effective earlier this month. Despite these job cuts, a spokesperson for Merck stated that the company remains committed to New Jersey and continues to employ more than 8,000 people in the state.
Merck has invested nearly $3 billion between 2018 and 2025 in its New Jersey operations, which manufacture medicines and vaccines. The company also has a significant presence in Pennsylvania, with a large manufacturing facility in Upper Gwynedd Township, Montgomery County.