National Semiconductor Corp is shedding staff again, this time cutting 170 employees, holding mainly administrative positions, from its Santa Clara headquarters. Nat Semi would not rule out the possibility of more cuts before the end of the year. Last month Nat Semi laid off 220 manufacturing workers from its South Portland, Maine and West Jordan, Utah plants (CI No 2,959). This was followed by an announcement that 200 jobs would be eliminated from its UK operation by year-end. Nat Semi says the latest round of layoffs are partly the result of duplication after it trimmed down from seven divisions to four (CI No 2,935) and partly an attempt to get costs in line with revenues. It’s fourth quarter net income was down 88.8% at $9.1m (CI No 2,929). The company’s first quarter results are due out in two weeks.
