Wilmington, Mass. – Charles River Laboratories plans to lay off 172 employees, prompting workforce impacts at its Ballardvale Street facility.
According to a WARN notice dated March 24, 2026, the company will reduce staff at 251 Ballardvale St., with layoffs scheduled to take effect June 23. The notice was submitted to Massachusetts labor officials and local leaders, including the MassHire Rapid Response team and Wilmington town officials.
The company stated the layoffs are connected to a partial closure of operations at the Wilmington site. The facility, which supports discovery and safety assessment services, has been undergoing phased changes, with some functions already shifted to other locations.
According to the notice, the closure process began Jan. 9, 2026, and includes the transfer of work from specific units, including biologics and research models operations. Officials noted that some previously impacted employees had their departure dates extended under the updated schedule.
The filing clarifies that the reductions are part of an ongoing restructuring and are not newly created job eliminations beyond previously identified changes.
Local and state workforce agencies are expected to coordinate response efforts, including potential job placement assistance and retraining resources for affected employees.
The layoffs may have ripple effects for nearby businesses and commuters in the Wilmington area, where the facility has been a longstanding employer.
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