Merck to Lay Off 6,000 Employees, Reduce Workforce by 8% in $3B Cost-Cutting Move

Merck announced it will lay off approximately 6,000 employees worldwide, reducing its workforce by 8% as part of a major cost-cutting and restructuring initiative2 3 5.

The company aims to achieve $3 billion in annual cost savings by the end of 2027 through these layoffs and other measures1 2 3.

Layoffs affect positions across administrative, sales, and R&D departments beginning immediately, although Merck will continue hiring in strategic growth areas1 2.

The restructuring responds to a challenging global market environment, particularly declining earnings from key products like Gardasil and the expected loss of patent exclusivity for Keytruda in 20281 4.

Merck employs about 75,000 people worldwide; more than 6,000 are based at its Rahway, New Jersey, site, but cuts are global and location-specific impacts have not been fully detailed1.