Johnson & Johnson cuts 87 jobs in New Jersey workforce

Johnson & Johnson is cutting 87 jobs at its headquarters in New Brunswick, New Jersey, effective December 18, 2026, as disclosed in a WARN Act notice. This follows a previous reduction of 56 employees completed in August 2026, bringing the total New Jersey cuts to 143. The layoffs, which include tech, engineering, compliance, and executive roles, are part of J&J's efforts to address stranded costs and improve operating margins as it prepares to spin out its orthopedics unit into DePuy Synthes by 2027.

Biopharma workforce reductions

• ▪In May 2026, Johnson & Johnson disclosed via a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification alert that it was cutting 56 employees in New Jersey, completing the reduction on August 21, 2026.
• ▪The December 18, 2026 workforce reductions at Johnson & Johnson include employees in technology, engineering, and compliance roles, alongside a vice president of procurement for medtech.
• ▪Johnson & Johnson is laying off 87 employees at its headquarters in New Brunswick, New Jersey, effective December 18, 2026, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notice.

Cost-cutting restructuring initiatives

• ▪Johnson & Johnson is evaluating its cost structure and organizational design to address stranded costs and improve operating margins during its orthopedics unit separation.
• ▪A Johnson & Johnson spokesperson stated that the company's cost-evaluation efforts are intended to enable continued investment in innovation for patients.

Company layoff details

• ▪The two rounds of layoffs disclosed by Johnson & Johnson in 2026 affect a total of 143 employees in New Jersey.
• ▪The May 2026 workforce reductions at Johnson & Johnson primarily affected employees in New Brunswick, with additional cuts in Raritan, Somerville, and Titusville, New Jersey.

Strategic pipeline prioritization

• ▪Johnson & Johnson announced in October 2025 that it would spin out its orthopedics unit, which is part of its medtech business, to establish DePuy Synthes as a standalone company in 2027.
• ▪The Johnson & Johnson orthopedics unit slated for separation generated approximately $9.2 billion in sales in 2024.