Roche adjusts workforce strategy with Bay Area layoffs

USA – Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche is adjusting its workforce strategy, with its Genentech unit cutting 143 jobs in South San Francisco as part of an ongoing shift in its Bay Area operations.

According to a California WARN notice, the layoffs will take effect on June 14 and affect multiple departments.

A company spokesperson explained that Roche is realigning resources to enhance operational efficiency, stating, “Our sustained growth depends on identifying innovation opportunities early and adapting to a changing market environment.”

The latest job cuts add to previous reductions, including 436 layoffs in 2024 and the sale of its Vacaville manufacturing facility to Lonza for US$ 1.2 billion.

Earlier this year, Roche also eliminated 108 positions at its Santa Clara-based Molecular Systems division.

Despite workforce adjustments in California, Roche is expanding its U.S. presence, announcing a US$ 700-million production facility in North Carolina that will create over 400 high-wage manufacturing jobs.

In addition, Roche committed US$ 50 billion to broader U.S. investments, including an Indianapolis diagnostics campus and three new R&D sites.

While restructuring continues, Roche projects overall workforce stability in 2025. The company is actively hiring, with over 2,000 open positions across its global operations to support its most promising drug candidates and technologies.