FOUNTAIN, Colo.—Colorado is losing more high-tech jobs with the closure of the Sanmina-SCI plant, which will cost 319 workers their jobs.
“It’s not totally surprising to us that this is happening,” said David White, Colorado Springs Economic Development Corp. marketing vice president. “These companies have to compete on a global basis. They have to keep their costs down. If they can’t keep their costs down, they can’t stay in business.”
The company, based in San Jose, Calif., makes circuit boards and cables. They informed Fountain Mayor Jeri Howells on Friday that they would be closing Dec. 31.
The layoffs will begin Nov. 10, the Gazette reported. It said it wasn’t known whether workers would get severance packages.
The future of the 250,000-square-foot building also is uncertain. The company declined comment.
The area lost 400 jobs earlier this year when Intel. Corp. announced the phased closure of its northwest Colorado Springs plant. When it closes completely in January, 400 more jobs will go.
Other industries also have cut an estimated 1,361 jobs in the area.
Fred Crowley of the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs said high-tech jobs paid an average of $55,000. He estimated the closing of the Sanmina-SCI plant could translate into the loss of 400 jobs at restaurants, dry cleaners and other services.
Many high-tech jobs also have been lost in northern Colorado.
