Tyson closes Joslin, IL beef plant, leaving over 2,500 workers jobless
SOURCENews reportView the filing ↗
What we know
Location: Joslin, Illinois, USA.
Department affected: beef processing (Joslin beef plant).
Based on news reporting.
Summary
Tyson Foods, Inc. closed its beef processing plant in Joslin, Illinois, and the decision resulted in over 2,500 workers losing their jobs after the company announced the closure on Aug. 13 and the plant was closed with a last day around Aug. 14. Workers and organizers held rallies protesting the abrupt shutdown and demanding full WARN Act severance (60 days) and better compensation; employees reported being told to go home with minimal notice. Tyson cited historic cattle shortages and is refocusing its beef operations around facilities in Dakota City, Nebraska; Holcomb, Kansas; and Amarillo, Texas, while also closing a case-ready facility in Eagle Mountain, Utah and pursuing a sale of its Pasco, Washington beef facility. The closures are occurring amid a smaller U.S. cattle herd and an anticipated beef production decline, while Tyson reported strong sales and significant adjusted operating income in its recent fiscal reporting.
Tyson Foods, Inc. cut 2,500 jobs in IL affecting its beef processing (Joslin beef plant) team as of August 14, 2026.
That is roughly 1.8% of the 138,000 people Tyson Foods, Inc. employs.
LayoffTalk has tracked 26 layoff events at Tyson Foods, Inc. since October 2023, including 5,777 jobs documented in official WARN filings, with 22 additional events known from news reporting.
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