Year to date, Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRKA) – a conglomerate of 77 operating companies – has shed approximately 8.6% of its workforce. A number of Berkshire subsidiaries have announced job cuts affected by the weakening economy.

Netjets, the unprofitable plane-leasing unit, cut approximately 800 jobs as its business got drained by reduced demand for flights.

Fruit of the Loom reported that excess inventory has led the company to eliminate approximately 3,000 jobs, as announced earlier in the year.

The downturn in the housing industry, which caused a fall in demand for interior finishes including carpet and other flooring products, has caused Shaw Industries to eliminate 600 jobs in March. Furthermore, 430 job cuts announced during September are on the cards.

Clayton Homes Inc., which builds mobile homes, also reported a headcount reduction of 500 since last fall.

The Buffalo News shed approximately 100 jobs through voluntary attrition, mostly on the production front.

Others who had announced job cuts last fall include Forest River, which manufactures recreation vehicles; R.C. Willey Home Furnishings; Acme Building Brands, which produces bricks, paint manufacturer Benjamin Moore; Russell Corp.; Dairy Queen; Western Enterprises; Jordan’s Furniture and Northern Natural Gas.

Berkshire is now adding a major rail business to its basket by acquiring Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. (BNI). Burlington Northern has drastically reduced its employees since 2007, as the recession punctured freight demand.

Berkshire’s management said that its operating companies have undertaken and will continue with cost reduction actions in response to the current economic situation. Such measures include curtailing production, reducing capital expenditures, closing facilities and reducing employment to partially compensate for the declines in demand for goods and services.

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