Leica Biosystems to Cut Nearly One-Third of Jobs at Nußloch Headquarters, Moving Roles Abroad

Leica Biosystems, a long-established German medical technology company based in Nußloch, Baden-Württemberg, announced plans to reduce its workforce by almost one-third at its headquarters in response to economic challenges facing traditional businesses.

The company employs about 300 people at its Nußloch site and intends to relocate approximately 90 jobs primarily in marketing, service, and research and development to China and the USA. Despite these cuts and relocations, Leica Biosystems confirmed that production operations will remain in Nußloch. The decision, disclosed to the company's works council on October 14, has raised serious concerns among local officials and employees.

Mayor Joachim Förster expressed shock over the job reductions, emphasizing Leica Biosystems' significance as a major employer in the community. Efforts to mitigate the impact include scheduled discussions about a social plan for affected workers, with a meeting planned for November 6 involving company management, the works council, and the IG Metall union to negotiate support measures.

This move reflects broader economic strains on traditional companies in the region, positioning Leica Biosystems amidst a challenging market environment while striving to maintain core production capabilities locally. The decisions underscore the ongoing pressures on German industry to remain competitive globally through strategic workforce realignments.