Workers at a Connecticut biotech giant gathered in small groups on September 23, 2025, as company managers delivered a phased shutdown notice to staff. The announcement confirmed that multiple positions would be terminated in coming months, though some non-manufacturing roles, including research and development, would remain.
The company says it is “fully committed to supporting them through this transition” — but how will the layoffs reshape operations in Connecticut?
Jobs at Stake in Fairfield County
Sixty-eight positions are being cut at the Shelton facility, spanning technicians, engineers, material handlers, and managers, according to a WARN notice filed with the Connecticut Department of Labor.
This 245,000-square-foot Bridgeport Avenue plant has anchored the firm since 2001, when operations from Norwalk and Wilton were consolidated. Layoffs start November 24, 2025, with full closure set for April 1, 2026, affecting Fairfield County’s biotech and advanced manufacturing ecosystem.
A Hard Decision for Employees
CTO Dominic Gostick emphasized in the September 23, 2025 WARN notice, “While we do not make such decisions lightly, I assure you that the wellbeing of our employees is of the utmost importance.”
The notice included detailed transition plans submitted to the Connecticut Department of Labor. Gostick added the company is “fully committed to supporting them through this transition,” while retaining some non-manufacturing roles at the Shelton facility, including research and development positions.
Connecticut’s Biotech Pillar Quakes
Connecticut’s bioscience sector employed 25,493 workers in 2023, ranking second nationally for academic bioscience R&D expenditures per capita and third for bioscience-related patents per capita.
The Shelton facility, opened in 2001, produces diagnostic and scientific instruments central to PerkinElmer’s operations. With a presence in Fairfield County since 1941, the plant’s closure marks a major disruption to the state’s biotechnology ecosystem.
PerkinElmer Confirms Shelton Closure
PerkinElmer U.S. LLC has officially announced the permanent closure of its Shelton manufacturing facility, according to a WARN notice filed September 23, 2025. The shutdown will affect 68 employees, with layoffs beginning November 24, 2025, and full closure by April 1, 2026.
CTO Dominic Gostick confirmed that manufacturing operations will move outside Connecticut, though locations were not disclosed. CEO Bill Purcell noted the company will retain non-manufacturing roles, including R&D and support functions in Shelton.
Lives Behind the Machines
The layoffs span technicians, engineers, material handlers, managers, and logistics roles. None of the affected employees are unionized, and no transfers or reassignments are available.
Bill Purcell of the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce said, “They are a valued employer and a valued community member. We work with the state, job training organizations and others to help the people who are being laid off find jobs.”
Gratitude Amid Transition
PerkinElmer’s employee notices thanked staff for their “continued dedication, patience and professionalism through this difficult process and time,” according to WARN filings.
The company will provide at least 60 days’ notice for each phase.
Manufacturing Operations to Cease, Some Functions Remain
PerkinElmer’s Shelton facility will end production activities that have anchored its Connecticut presence since 2001. Non-manufacturing roles, including “high-value R&D and support function positions,” will remain, according to VP Markus Leutert.
The site had consolidated operations from Norwalk and Wilton when the Instruments division moved in. Manufacturing work is relocating to other facilities outside Connecticut.
State Workforce Development Resources Available
Connecticut’s Rapid Response programs through the Department of Labor assist workers affected by mass layoffs. These programs aim to help displaced employees transition to new jobs, though details for PerkinElmer staff remain undisclosed.
The Rapid Response Unit works directly with employers to provide support services, but the scope and timeline of assistance for Shelton employees have not been made public.
Employment Impact and Worker Rights
Sixty-eight employees across manufacturing, engineering, and logistics roles are affected. None are unionized, and no transfer or reassignment rights exist, according to the WARN notice.
PerkinElmer has pledged support during the transition, though severance and other assistance beyond federal WARN Act requirements have not been publicly shared.
Company’s Strategic Context
PerkinElmer, rebranded as Revvity in 2023, has reshaped its portfolio, divesting Applied, Food, and Enterprise Services businesses for $2.45 billion. CEO Prahlad Singh has led the focus on life sciences and diagnostics since 2019.
The Shelton closure reflects a consolidation of manufacturing, though the company has not disclosed detailed strategic reasoning for this decision.
Local Community Response
Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti noted PerkinElmer employed around 500 people at Bridgeport Avenue a decade ago, with current operations much smaller. A new lease was signed 18 months ago.
“Shelton is usually the last place where companies want to leave,” Lauretti said. “If somebody decides to move, it’s usually not too long before somebody else moves in.” The site is zoned IA-3 Industrial.
Workforce Transition Support
The federal WARN Act requires at least 60 days’ notice, which PerkinElmer met with its September 23, 2025 filing. Connecticut law mandates separation notices and unemployment benefit information.
State Rapid Response programs exist to provide training and placement assistance, but specific timelines or programs for Shelton employees have not been detailed publicly.
Future of the Facility
The 454,846-square-foot 710 Bridgeport Avenue facility, built in 1979, houses office and industrial spaces with PerkinElmer as primary tenant.
While some non-manufacturing operations remain, the future of the manufacturing portion is undecided. Previous development proposals exist, but no formal reuse plans have been announced.
Connecticut’s Next Chapter Begins Now
As PerkinElmer winds down manufacturing in Shelton, its exit marks a pivotal moment for Connecticut’s biotech sector. The loss of 68 skilled jobs, confirmed in a September 2025 WARN notice, reverberates through both the local workforce and regional economy.
Still, optimism persists. Displaced employees, city officials, and state partners—including the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce—are collaborating to attract new biotech employers. “We built this industry here—we’ll help rebuild it too,” said one longtime supervisor, reflecting the region’s determination to sustain its biotech future.