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Caterpillar was among companies that met with President Donald
Trump in February to talk about job creation, at a time when
about 2,300 U.S. workers at five major manufacturing companies
stand to lose their jobs within the next two years as a result
of offshoring.
The company said it will transition its large wheel loaders and
compactors to its plant in Decatur, Illinois, and medium wheel
loaders to North Little Rock, Arkansas.
"Out of about 800 production positions, about 500 positions
would likely be added to Decatur and about 150 positions would
be added in North Little Rock," Caterpillar spokeswoman Lisa
Miller told Reuters.
The company has already slashed its workforce by more than
16,000 to cope with a slumping economy and had said it would
take another $500 million in restructuring costs in 2017.
Caterpillar said, in January, that it was considering closing
two major production facilities, including the one in Aurora,
Illinois, where it makes large-wheel loaders and compactors.
The plant closure is expected to be completed by the end of
2018, Caterpillar said in a statement.
The company in January forecast 2017 profit sharply below
analysts' estimates, hurt by sluggish demand in the construction
and energy industries.
Caterpillar had about 95,400 full-time employees of whom 54,500
persons were located outside the United States as of Dec. 31,
according to a regulatory filing.
(Reporting by Gayathree Ganesan and Akankshita Mukhopadhyay in
Bengaluru; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
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