Last week, WyoTech in Laramie laid off more than 40 employees. WyoTech and its parent company, Zenith, declined to comment on the layoffs, but cited falling enrollment in a press release Wednesday. They said there would be about a 30% reduction of staff at the Laramie campus.
Dan Furphy is the President and CEO of the Albany County Chamber of Commerce. He says he’s seen enrollment ebb and flow before, but never such a large layoff.
40 jobs in our community is significant, and we will probably feel the impact.
“40 jobs in our community is significant, and we will probably feel the impact," says Furphy. "I’m hoping that based upon what’s happened to WyoTech in the past, that it is temporary.”
Furphy also says the decision may be in response to low enrollment right now due to bad press surrounding the college’s former owners, Corinthian Colleges. Corinthian sold the school in February after the department of education accused it of falsifying job placement data.