Caterpillar Lays Off More Peoria-Area Employees

Caterpillar is laying off more employees to cut costs in the wake of COVID-19.
Company spokeswoman Kate Kenny says the company is laying off management, support, and production employees in Peoria and Decatur. Some agency workers are also impacted.
The number of employees and contracted workers affected wasn't disclosed. An unspecified number of employees at Building KK in East Peoria were laid off in recent weeks, as well. Most Caterpillar employees are considered essential under Gov. J.B. Pritzker's stay-at-home order.
Kenny also said the Mapleton foundry is operational once again. That facility was temporarily closed in March due to decreased demand.
 
On Tuesday, the company announced first-quarter sales and revenue losses of 22 percent this year, when compared to 2019. Caterpillar still maintains a positive profit margin of 13.2 percent.
 
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