NIC Global cuts 103 jobs near Seattle as data center demand shifts work east
NIC Global is closing its Woodinville plant to move production near growing data centers in Eastern Washington.
Layoffs · Source: GeekWire
What happened
Metal fabricator NIC Global is closing its 100,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Woodinville, Washington. The closure will eliminate 103 local jobs. Layoffs will begin on January 18, 2027, and continue in phases until final departures happen on August 31, 2028. The building will be returned to the landlord when the lease ends in September 2028.
The company is moving most of this production to Spokane in Eastern Washington. A smaller portion of the work will go to a facility in Gallatin, Tennessee. The Woodinville site previously served energy and medical device customers, but local demand has dropped. The company, which has nearly 600 employees globally, also operates plants in Texas, Ohio, and China.
This shift is directly driven by the booming data center industry. Customers in Eastern Washington need more power distribution technology to support new data centers. NIC Global CEO Troy Wood stated that the company must move production closer to these customers to stay competitive. The Woodinville plant was originally formed in 2001, but the current market requires a different location.
By the numbers
- 103 — Number of jobs being cut at the Woodinville plant.
- January 18, 2027 — The date the first round of layoffs will begin.
- August 31, 2028 — The scheduled date for the final employee departures.
- 100,000 — Square footage of the manufacturing site that is closing.
Why it matters
This situation shows exactly how the data center boom is reshaping traditional manufacturing and engineering jobs. The work is not simply disappearing. It is physically moving to regions where new infrastructure is expanding. Job seekers need to watch where these new industrial hubs are forming, as supply chain companies will follow the major tech investments.
The unusually long timeline also gives workers a rare window to plan their next steps. With layoffs stretched over 18 months, affected employees have significant time to upskill, network, or relocate. The company is encouraging laid-off workers to apply for openings at its other plants, highlighting that mobility can save a job when a physical plant closes.
Who this hits
Manufacturing and engineering staff
Assembly, engineering, quality assurance, forklift, and metal fabrication workers face direct job cuts. They will need to look for roles at other local fabricators, apply to transfer to NIC plants in Spokane or Tennessee, or change industries.
Corporate and IT teams
Finance, IT, sales, and West Coast support teams are not losing their jobs. The company is keeping its legal and financial headquarters in the Woodinville area and moving these corporate teams to a new local office.
Other local employers
Remaining Seattle-area fabricators like JEMCO Components & Fabrications and QUAL-FAB will see changes in the local talent pool. They may receive applications from the 103 laid-off workers and could potentially absorb some of the local medical and energy clients left behind.
What to do this week
- Research industries driving physical growth in your state, like data centers, and target the supply chain companies supporting them.
- Track where your company's major customers are building new facilities, as your employer may eventually move operations to stay close to them.
- Look into internal transfer policies if your company announces a relocation. NIC Global is encouraging affected workers to apply to its other plants.
- Use long transition periods to your advantage. If you get a layoff notice months in advance, start updating your resume and networking immediately.
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My take
I always remind job seekers that skills travel where demand moves. The work at NIC Global is not vanishing, it is just following data centers to Eastern Washington. If you want a stable career, you must pay attention to these market shifts and be ready to move your skills to where they are needed most.