The pharmaceutical group Johnson & Johnson has confirmed a reduction in its workforce in Switzerland, confirming information published by Inside Paradeplatz on January 3. The German-speaking site claims that the American giant plans to cut 100 jobs and close its Zuchwil site, in the canton of Solothurn. But if Johnson & Johnson admitted planning a restructuring with the AWP agency, it refused to give a figure concerning the number of jobs concerned.
It’s about adapting business to a complex and rapidly changing external environment, a spokeswoman told AWP on Tuesday evening. The company has recently made changes to its organization in order to improve processes. The employees concerned will be supported in their search for new employment, this spokesperson also reported the agency.
The group, headquartered in New Brunswick in the United States, indicates on its website that it employs 5,600 people in Switzerland (out of a total of 131,900 at the end of 2023) through various subsidiaries and on nine sites. The one in Zuchwil mentioned by Inside Paradeplatz, is the headquarters for the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) activities of DePuy Synthes, its division specializing in orthopedic products. The presence in Switzerland dates back to 1959 with the acquisition of Cilag in Schaffhausen, which is today its main production site in the country.
320 Neuchâtel positions already eliminated
In 2021, the American group had already announced the elimination of 320 jobs in several of its subsidiaries in the canton of Neuchâtel due to the relocation of certain activities to Mexico and Costa Rica. A decision which led to a strong reaction, the group refusing to implement a social plan. Several political figures had also requested the restitution of aid and tax reductions from which Johnson & Johnson had been able to benefit.
During the pandemic, the American group was one of the first to offer a vaccine against covid. Unlike the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, Johnson & Johnson’s was based on older technology. Its use was suspended for some time due to side effects and the group decided not to continue its development to deal with new variants.
In 2023, the group recorded an increase in its turnover to 85.1 billion dollars (compared to 79.9 billion in 2022). Its net profit was also increasing to 35.1 billion (17.9 in 2022, but this increase is explained by the IPO of Kenvue, the former consumer health product division of the group. Without this activity, Johnson & Johnson’s profit showed a decline over the first nine months of 2024, it appears to be up again at 10.6 billion (9.2 over the same period in 2023). has a market capitalization of 352 billion dollars but over one year its stock fell by 9.4%.
