MN Job Losses: These 10 Companies Have Highest Layoffs In 2025

TWIN CITIES, MN — The announcement in late September that Illume Candles will close its Maple Grove plant, cutting 132 jobs, is the latest in a series of significant workforce reductions across Minnesota this year.

Even with those losses, Minnesota’s overall job market remains relatively strong, with unemployment holding steady at 3.6 percent in August.

But recent WARN notices filed with the state show pockets of strain in key industries, particularly manufacturing and industrial production.

According to filings with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), more than 3,500 job cuts have been reported this year under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, which requires companies to give at least 60 days’ notice before large-scale layoffs or closures.

These filings provide a snapshot of major workforce reductions in the state, though they don’t capture every job loss. Smaller layoffs that fall below federal reporting thresholds are not required to be disclosed publicly.

Below are the 10 largest layoffs reported in Minnesota so far in 2025, based on WARN notices filed through September:

1. HibTac / Minorca Mine — 600 Jobs

A temporary layoff of 600 miners was announced in March at the Hibbing Taconite (HibTac) mine in northern Minnesota. The production pause at the Minorca site represents the largest single layoff event in the state this year.

2. Centrex (Network Therapy Services) — 311 Jobs

Rehabilitation services provider Centrex, based in Bloomington, filed a WARN notice in September indicating that all 311 employees will lose their jobs as the company winds down operations. The closure takes effect November 7, 2025.

3. Smurfit Westrock — 189 Jobs

Packaging manufacturer Smurfit Westrock announced plans in May to close its St. Paul plant, affecting 189 workers. The shutdown marks one of the largest industrial closures in the Twin Cities this year.

4. CNH Industrial — 175 Jobs

Agricultural equipment maker CNH Industrial notified the state in February that 175 employees would be laid off at its Benson plant. The reduction was tied to a downturn in production demand.

5. Upsher-Smith Laboratories — 150 Jobs

Upsher-Smith Laboratories, a Maple Grove–based pharmaceutical company, filed a WARN notice in February for 150 employees as part of a restructuring of its manufacturing operations.

6. J & E Companies — 145 Jobs

Utilities contractor J & E Companies announced in June that 145 employees would be affected by the closure of its Lakeville operations. The layoffs were described as permanent.

7. Illume Candles LLC — 132 Jobs

In September, Illume Candles said it would shut down manufacturing at its Maple Grove facility, eliminating 132 positions in phases between December 2025 and June 2026. Some employees will transfer to its parent company, Creative Co-op, in Tennessee.

8. Teleflex — 101 Jobs

Medical device manufacturer Teleflex filed a notice in April for 101 job cuts at its Maple Grove plant. The company described the move as a permanent closure linked to corporate restructuring.

9. Apple Valley Foods — 95 Jobs

Food manufacturer Apple Valley Foods in Chaska reported 95 job cuts in May 2025 as part of a facility closure.

10. The Sportsman’s Guide — 57 Jobs

The Sportsman’s Guide, a South St. Paul-based outdoor gear retailer, announced a workforce reduction of 57 employees in July 2025.