1,599 Iowans laid off at John Deere in 2024; more coming in January

John Deere tractors (Canva)

By Amie Rivers

December 12, 2024

Another round of layoffs at John Deere is coming to Iowa.

This time, 112 workers will be laid off from the East Donald Street plant in Waterloo by Jan. 6, while another 80 will be laid off at the plant in Davenport by Jan. 3, according to Iowa’s WARN Act website.

This year alone—not counting the ones that are coming down next month—Deere and Co. has laid off 1,599 workers at plants across the state.

And Waterloo, where Deere employs thousands, has taken the brunt: 963 workers here have been laid off in 2024 alone—again, not counting those being laid off Jan. 6, which will put that number at over a thousand out of work.

“Yet another group of men and women in the Waterloo community will be forced to navigate an increasingly difficult unemployment landscape due to another round of layoffs,” said State Sen. Bill Dotzler of Waterloo. Dotzler called on the Iowa Legislature, which reconvenes next month, to improve unemployment laws to help.

Deere is citing a $3 billion drop in net income as the reason, with fewer farmers purchasing equipment due to declining farm revenues.

What are your thoughts on Deere layoffs this year? Email us here.

Amie Rivers

Amie Rivers is Iowa Starting Line's newsletter editor. She writes the weekly Worker’s Almanac edition of Iowa Starting Line, featuring a roundup of the worker news you need to know. Previously, she was an award-winning journalist at the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier; now, she very much enjoys making TikToks and memes and getting pet photos in her inbox.

Have a story tip? Reach Amie at [email protected]. For local reporting in Iowa that connects the dots, from policy to people, sign up for Amie's newsletter.

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CATEGORIES: LABOR

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