Tyson is the biggest name in U.S. meatpacking – processing 20% of all beef, chicken, and pork sold in America.
But that dominance is starting to shift.
In just the last few years, Tyson has closed more than 10 U.S. plants, laid off thousands of workers, and stunned small towns that depended on those jobs.
What’s happening behind the scenes?
Let’s take a look…
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Tyson has more than 120 production facilities across the U.S., including chicken, beef, pork, and prepared foods plants.
It employs over 100,000 people – many in small towns where jobs are hard to come by.
But now? That job security is vanishing fast.
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Several reasons are stacking up:
– Shrinking cattle herds and chicken oversupply
– High feed, labor, and energy costs
– Aging infrastructure
– Pressure to boost profits with fewer facilities
Put simply, it’s becoming too expensive to run older or smaller plants. So they’re shutting them down.
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Let’s walk through the most recent Tyson closures, including where they happened, how many jobs were lost, and when they shut down.
For a company this size, it’s a seismic shift.
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Tyson’s pork processing plant in Perry, Iowa closed on June 28, 2024.
It employed about 1,200 people, making it the largest employer in town.
Tyson gave workers a few months’ notice, but many were blindsided by the speed of the shutdown.
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This plant closed on December 13, 2024, affecting 125 workers.
It produces fully cooked meats for sandwiches and food service, and it’s been in operation for decades.
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Located just down the street from the cooked plant, this facility closed on January 31, 2025.
It employs 104 workers, many of whom are still trying to figure out their next step.
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Tyson’s Emporia facility – focused on beef and pork – shut down on June 27, 2025.
Over 800 people will lose their jobs.
Originally, it was supposed to close earlier. But even with the extension, the writing’s on the wall.
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The closures listed above aren’t isolated.
Tyson also shut down at least 6 chicken plants in 2023, including locations in:
– Noel and Dexter, Missouri
– Van Buren and North Little Rock, Arkansas
– Glen Allen, Virginia
– Corydon, Indiana
Those closures displaced thousands more workers.
Some of the impacted contract farmers are still trying to recover today.
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Tyson says it’s offering severance, job placement help, and relocation options where possible.
But in small towns like Perry and Emporia, options are slim.
And for Philly workers who rely on public transit and union jobs, relocating isn’t realistic.
For many, the only option is to start over, somewhere else.
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When Tyson shutters a plant, it’s not just factory workers who feel it.
Whole towns take a hit, from local restaurants and schools to mechanics and clinics.
And for farmers? Some are losing contracts. Others are being pushed to switch to egg production, which means costly upgrades and big financial risk.
Tyson calls it efficiency.
But on the ground, it feels like collapse.
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Fewer facilities = less flexibility.
If one remaining plant goes offline, there’s no backup.
That could mean higher meat prices, more shortages, and longer supply chain delays down the road.
Despite the closures, Tyson still reported billions in sales in 2024.
Analysts say this is part of a broader effort to “right-size” the business and improve profits.
Translation: fewer plants, fewer workers, higher margins.
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Let’s recap what’s happened so far:
– 1 pork plant (Perry, IA)
– 1 beef/pork plant (Emporia, KS)
– 2 prepared food plants (Philadelphia, PA)
– 6 chicken plants across the South & Midwest
That’s 10 confirmed closures, and over 7,700 jobs lost.
And the harsh reality is that many of those jobs aren’t coming back.
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These closures aren’t just about meat. They’re about what happens when stable, working-class jobs disappear.
Have you noticed more factory closures in your area? Or know someone who has been affected?
Drop your thoughts in the comments!
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