Recession looms as tech firms lay off thousands

The freefalling global economy hit tech employees hard today as a raft of companies announced job cuts right across the board.

EMC the US-based maker of data storage systems intends to axe 2,400 staff, or 10 per cent of its workforce, in an attempt to adjust to the massive slump in its sales.

Two Viasystems electronics factories in northeast England are to close, resulting in the loss of 1,600 jobs after last-ditch talks between trade union officials and European Printed Circuit Boards Group, who owns the factories, failed.

Also in the UK, Michael Leahy, general secretary of the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation, said 800 jobs are to go at Motorola's Swindon factory.

Motorola announced earlier this month that it would be cutting 2,000 jobs globally because of falling sales.

However, Leahy accused the US mobile phone maker of disproportionately targeting UK workers for these cuts.

In Ireland, Fujitsu is closing a semiconductor plant it jointly runs with Shinko Electric resulting in the loss of 340 jobs. The two companies are also blaming the slump in the technology sector.