Chevron to Lay Off Nearly 200 Workers in Permian Basin

MIDLAND, TX – Chevron will lay off approximately 200 employees at its Midland County facilities in West Texas beginning July 15, not 800 as initially reported by the Texas Workforce Commission, according to the Houston Chronicle.

The error stemmed from a data entry issue in the commission’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) database, according to commission spokesperson Sarah Fischer. Chevron originally notified the agency of the job cuts on May 16, but the system incorrectly listed the number as 800 and the notification date as May 28.

Chevron spokesperson Allison Cook confirmed the correction in an email to the Chronicle, noting the layoffs are in compliance with the WARN Act. The majority of cuts — 185 of the 200 — will come from the Chevron Midcontinent Headquarters Campus in Midland. Cook said Chevron will attempt to place as many affected workers as possible in other roles and is offering severance and transition support.

Fischer said WARN layoff numbers are subject to change, but the commission has updated its records to reflect the correct figures.

The layoffs come as Chevron continues a larger restructuring plan aimed at cutting 15% to 20% of its global workforce by 2026. The company also plans to lay off 600 employees in California beginning Sunday, the Chronicle reported.

Chevron announced last August it would relocate its headquarters from San Ramon, California, to Houston, where it now employs about 7,000 people. CEO Mike Wirth and Vice Chairman Mark Nelson are now based in Houston as part of the transition.

Nelson previously said the job reductions are intended to make the company more competitive long term and that Chevron is investing in technology to boost efficiency.

The workforce reductions come amid Chevron’s $66.5 million renovation of its downtown Houston headquarters, according to the Chronicle.