EMC to cut jobs; another hit for Triangle tech workers

Data storage company EMC Corp., which has 800 employees and contractors in North Carolina, is laying off 7 percent of its global work force in a cost-cutting move.

The impact of the cuts on its Tar Heel workers -- most of whom are in the Triangle -- is unclear. Although the Massachusetts company is planning to consolidate and move some facilities, its manufacturing plant in Apex and its software development operations in Research Triangle Park "continue to be important strategic elements of our business," said spokesman David Farmer.

EMC's business is slowing down because of the recession, but it's still expanding. The company said Wednesday that it expects its fourth-quarter revenue will be about $4 billion, 4 percent higher than during the same period a year ago.

But the fourth quarter will be the first one in the last 22 quarters in which the company doesn't post double-digit revenue growth.

"We intend to carry on this success during the downturn and emerge even stronger," Farmer said. The company's restructuring, as well as other efforts to curb expenses, is expected to reduce costs by $350 million this year.

With information technology spending expected to slow significantly amid the recession, technology companies of all sizes have been trimming jobs.

Lenovo announced this week that it is cutting 250 jobs in Morrisville, although the computer maker also is adding 150 jobs by shifting a call center operation from Toronto. A dozen other Triangle technology companies have had layoffs in recent months, including IBM, Nortel Networks and Sony Ericsson.

EMC is trimming 2,400 jobs worldwide, about 7 percent of its 35,400 workers in its data storage, data security and software management business.