IKEA conducts mass layoffs at Wielbark plant in Poland

IKEA has conducted group layoffs at its facility in Wielbark, located in the Warmia-Masuria region of Poland, affecting approximately 240 to 250 employees. The plant, which employs about 1,500 people, is the largest employer in the municipality.

The company cited a decline in orders and a difficult situation within the broader furniture industry as the reasons for the reductions. Local officials noted that while displaced workers received severance packages based on their length of service—some reaching tens of thousands of PLN—finding new employment remains a significant challenge due to a lack of local job offers.

Since its opening in 2007, the facility has played a vital role in the regional economy, helping to lower unemployment rates that previously reached nearly 30 percent. The presence of the plant also supported the growth of local businesses, including sawmills and carpentry workshops.