Semiconductor industry supplier Edwards Vacuum notified workers Tuesday that it plans to shut down production at its Hillsboro site and lay off 140 workers, the latest in a historic spate of Oregon job cuts.
Spokesperson Paul Humphreys said Edwards will “consolidate production across existing Edwards manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and the U.K.” and stop making products in Hillsboro. He said the changes make the company “better positioned for the current business climate and for future growth.”
The layoffs will begin Nov. 15 and continue through June 2026, according to a notice Edwards sent to state workforce officials. The company said it plans to maintain other Hillsboro operations, including sales and customer service, but declined to say how many employees will remain.
Edwards’ products establish vacuum conditions inside manufacturing tools used in semiconductor production and treat hazardous materials. It’s not clear what products Edwards makes locally.
Hillsboro is at the heart of Oregon’s Silicon Forest, home to Intel’s leading-edge research fabs and other chip industry facilities, too.
The state’s semiconductor industry is in a cyclical downturn while Intel, Oregon’s largest manufacturer, is facing an existential crisis as it struggles to overcome years of manufacturing setbacks and the loss of technological leadership to rivals overseas. The chipmaker laid off 1,300 Oregon workers last year and 2,400 more in July.
Employers across all industries have reported more than 11,000 Oregon layoffs since the beginning of 2024, on par with the rapid pace of job cuts during the Great Recession.
The state’s unemployment rate has climbed steadily over the past year to 5.0%, the highest rate since the pandemic but still moderate by historical standards.
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