Gehl Cutting Workforce By 18%

Wisconsin-based Gehl Co. announced it's cutting 62 salaried employees and 19 hourly workers — about 18% of its total workforce. The company said the economic downturn in housing and construction is to blame.

Gehl said it has also laid off 19 hourly workers at its South Dakota manufacturing plant after eliminating nearly 50 hourly positions about six weeks ago. The latest job cuts are mostly being done at Gehl's corporate office in West Bend. Employees were notified Monday and most received severance or early retirement.

For nearly 150 years, the company was locally owned until it was sold to the French-based Manitou BF S.A this year. ❖