Merck has filed 3 WARN notices in New Jersey, affecting 350 workers total. Filing dates range from Nov 14, 2025 through Sep 4, 2026. Rahway accounts for 100% of affected workers.
The current year is incomplete; these totals are not a like-for-like growth comparison.
Type not specified for 100% of filings.
Merck (known as MSD outside the United States) is a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Rahway, New Jersey. Founded in 1891, the company discovers, develops, and manufactures prescription medicines, vaccines, and animal health products. Merck employs roughly 69,000 people worldwide.
Merck has conducted periodic layoffs tied to drug pipeline shifts, patent expirations, and facility consolidations. The company announced restructuring programs in 2019 and 2024 that included workforce reductions across manufacturing and corporate functions. WARN filings from Merck and its subsidiaries (including Organon, which was spun off in 2021) reflect plant closures and operational realignments.
Merck's biggest modern challenge has been managing the revenue cliff from patent expirations on blockbuster drugs. The company's success with Keytruda, an immunotherapy cancer treatment that became the world's best-selling drug, provided a major revenue replacement. Merck spun off its women's health, biosimilars, and established brands portfolio as Organon in 2021 to sharpen its focus on innovative pharmaceuticals.
Merck is preparing for the eventual loss of Keytruda patent exclusivity (expected around 2028) by investing in its oncology pipeline, vaccines, and animal health business. The company is exploring AI for drug discovery and clinical trial optimization. Facility consolidations and manufacturing restructurings continue as the company repositions its operations.
Last reviewed 2026-04-15| Location | State | Type | Workers | Effective | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rahway | NJ | 88 | Not separately reported Recorded: 2026-09-04 (source date) |
2026-09-04 (source date) | |
| Rahway | NJ | 204 | Not separately reported Recorded: 2026-02-20 (source date) |
2026-02-20 (source date) | |
| Rahway | NJ | 58 | Not separately reported Recorded: 2025-11-14 (source date) |
2025-11-14 (source date) |
If you received a layoff notice from Merck, check the dates in your own written notice and the applicable state rules. Federal WARN generally requires 60 days notice for covered events, subject to exceptions; a public filing does not establish your individual entitlement. Read the Department of Labor guidance. Review unemployment benefits, health coverage and local job-center support.
Apply online at your state workforce agency. You may be eligible before your last day.
Continue your employer health plan for up to 18 months, or compare lower-cost options on the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Federal WARN generally requires 60 days notice for covered employers and qualifying events, subject to exceptions. State rules may differ.
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America's Job Centers offer free career counseling, resume help, interview prep, job search assistance, and retraining vouchers for workers affected by WARN Act layoffs. Ask about Rapid Response services.
Data on this site comes from WARN Act filings published by state workforce agencies. Where a state does not publish a usable list, filings come from a third-party compilation and are marked on each row. Filings are updated regularly but may not reflect same-day submissions. Coverage varies by state.
News reports may describe a different time period, geography or company-wide announcement. This page contains 3 filings covering 350 reported workers in the last 24 months. Those figures cannot be reconciled with a headline alone. Use the individual source records above to check locations and dates; filings can include amendments and do not prove that all announced layoffs occurred.
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