Expert says Whirlpool layoffs at Ft. Smith will have ripple effect

The layoffs that Whirlpool Corp. plans here will have ripple effects in sectors of the economy other than manufacturing, an expert said.

The appliance maker's decision to eliminate 730 jobs next fall will be felt as the buying power of area residents shrinks, said Kathy Deck, associate director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

"It affects retail, restaurants, hairdressers and dry cleaners - all the services set up to help people. Obviously, this would have less impact if some of this happened through attrition and retirement," Deck said.

Whirlpool representatives have said that some of the job cuts will come via attrition and voluntary retirement. Whirlpool employs about 4,500 people in Fort Smith. The loss of jobs in Fort Smith will coincide with the opening of a new refigerator plant in Mexico.


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I see hard times for Ft. Smith if this happens.