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Wilson Clothing Plant To Lay Off More Than 400 Employees

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WILSON, N.C. — V.F. Jeanswear will be putting 445 people out of work over the next 14 months.

The company announced it is closing its Wilson plant and sending its jobs to Central America.

A company official says the job cuts are necessary to sell jeans at prices buyers have come to expect. The first round of lay-offs could be in July.

The news is the latest blow to Wilson County, which has a 9-percent unemployment rate.

Nearly two years ago, V.F. Jeanswear reduced its Wilson payroll by about half.

Just last month, Standard Commercial announced plans to close one of its plants and lay off 500 employees.

Only four North Carolina counties have higher unemployment rates: Tyrrell (11.7 percent), Hyde (10 percent), Graham (9.2 percent) and Scotland (9.1 percent.)

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