Automobile manufacturer Ford Motor Co. recently announced that they will be doing away with approximately 2,500 jobs as part of a massive restructuring plan. Lower demand for Ford vehicles has made this necessary for the company. This decision will effect Cleveland jobs along with those located at the Chicago and Louisville plants.

According to a company spokesperson, many of the jobs in Cleveland may possibly result from company-wide buyouts offered earlier this year. Employees that do not accept one of the ten early retirement packages being offered will be laid off.

Since 2006 Ford Motor Co. has eliminated more than 40,000 jobs. Steady loss of market shares and other staggering losses has made the necessary for the manufacturer to continue to profit. In 2007 alone the Michigan-based company’s losses amounted to 2.7 billion dollars, thankfully down from the record breaking 12.6 billion lost in 2006. In January, Ford began to offer buyouts to 12,000 workers.

According to Joe Hinrichs, group vice president of global manufacturing, “The buyouts and capacity actions are designed to ensure that our manufacturing facilities are operating in the most efficient way.”

Production at the plants effected will be reduced to one shift for those with jobs in Cleveland. Ford is also planning on delaying the restart of production at an engine plant in Cleveland until the fall of this year. Originally the company had hoped to be able to continue production starting this spring.

“We remain focused on our plan to return the North American automotive business to profitability,” Mark Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas said. “These actions are necessary as we align our capacity and product mix to meet real customer demand.”