Black and Veatch Announce Layoffs

Black and Veatch, an engineering, consulting, and construction company based out of Kansas City, Missouri, announced Monday that it had laid off 140 employees in the last week. 75 of those layoffs were in the Kansas City area.

Black and Veatch will also be suspending raises. In a written statement, the company said it was “deferring the traditional merit adjustment cycle” of the entire company’s workforce due to “uncertainties in the global economic picture.”

Despite the layoffs and raise freeze, Black and Veatch anticipates an overall 5% growth in employment over the course of 2009. Currently, the company employs 9,600 worldwide with 3,600 in Kansas City.

“There is growth across other business, including our telecom, federal services, management consulting and water operations … ” Spokesman George Minter said. “We are continuing to hire skilled positions across the company, and the company is well-positioned to help address the trillions of dollars in global infrastructure needs as those efforts advance.”

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