TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey’s workforce continues to face mounting job losses as companies across healthcare, pharmaceuticals, banking, telecommunications, manufacturing, hospitality and technology file notices of mass layoffs with the state under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act.
The latest filing comes from HelloFresh, which notified the state that 37 employees at its Swedesboro facility are expected to lose their jobs beginning Nov. 17.
HelloFresh joins a growing list of major employers announcing workforce reductions throughout 2026, adding to concerns about New Jersey’s business climate as companies continue downsizing or restructuring operations.
Since spring, dozens of employers have filed WARN notices affecting thousands of workers across the Garden State, with many of the layoffs scheduled to occur between now and December.
The reductions span nearly every major sector of New Jersey’s economy, including Fortune 500 corporations, hotels, manufacturers, logistics firms, financial institutions and pharmaceutical companies.
- HelloFresh plans to eliminate 37 jobs at its Swedesboro facility beginning Nov. 17.
- Thousands of layoffs have been announced across New Jersey through WARN filings during 2026.
- Major employers affected include Samsung, Mars Wrigley, JPMorgan Chase, Verizon, Novartis, Merck, Spirit Airlines and FedEx.
- Most announced layoffs are scheduled to occur before the end of the year.
Major employers continue reducing workforces
Among the largest announced layoffs is Samsung Electronics America in Englewood Cliffs, which plans to eliminate 739 jobs by Sept. 30.
Other significant workforce reductions include:
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals – 322 jobs in East Hanover.
- Mars Wrigley – 307 jobs in Newark.
- Verizon – 282 jobs in Basking Ridge, in addition to several smaller workforce reductions announced earlier this year.
- Accupac – 260 jobs in Lakewood.
- Spirit Airlines – 201 jobs in Newark.
- Notions Marketing – 179 jobs in Gloucester County.
- Samsung SDS America – 179 jobs in Ridgefield Park.
- JPMorgan Chase – 173 additional jobs in Jersey City after earlier layoffs this year.
- Verizon – multiple WARN notices totaling hundreds of positions across several facilities.
Healthcare, financial services and pharmaceutical companies have also announced layoffs, including Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Prudential, Citibank, Barclays, UBS, ADP, BASF, Danone North America and Amicus Therapeutics.
Layoffs spread across the state
The layoffs are not concentrated in one region but instead stretch from North Jersey to South Jersey.
Communities including Newark, Jersey City, Basking Ridge, East Hanover, Princeton, Lakewood, Swedesboro, Atlantic City, Vineland, Bridgeton, Rahway, Somerset, Parsippany and Englewood Cliffs are all expected to be affected.
Several notices involve phased layoffs extending through late 2026 or, in the case of Gerresheimer in Vineland, continuing into mid-2027.
Under the federal WARN Act, employers generally must notify state officials before implementing large layoffs or plant closures, allowing workers and local governments advance notice. A WARN notice does not necessarily mean a company is closing permanently, as some reductions are tied to restructurings, consolidations or operational changes.
Business climate remains a political issue
The continued stream of WARN notices comes as New Jersey’s business climate remains a frequent topic of political debate.
Republican lawmakers have argued that high taxes, regulatory costs and rising operating expenses make New Jersey increasingly difficult for employers, contributing to corporate downsizing and relocation decisions.
Business advocates, however, note that layoffs often result from company-specific restructuring, technological changes, mergers, changing consumer demand and broader national economic conditions rather than any single state policy.
Regardless of the cause, the steady flow of WARN notices means thousands of New Jersey workers are expected to face job losses before year’s end, with HelloFresh becoming the latest employer to notify the state of upcoming workforce reductions.
FAQ
- Why did HelloFresh file a WARN notice?
The company notified New Jersey that 37 employees at its Swedesboro facility are expected to be laid off beginning Nov. 17. - What is a WARN notice?
The federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act requires many employers to provide advance notice before mass layoffs or plant closures. - Are all of these companies leaving New Jersey?
Not necessarily. WARN notices may involve restructurings, workforce reductions or facility changes and do not always indicate a company is exiting the state.
Source: New Jersey Department of Labor WARN Notices.
