Type
Internal restructuring
Country
Germany
Region
Niedersachsen; Braunschweig; Göttingen
Location of affected unit(s)
Göttingen
Sector
Manufacturing
(26 - 27) Manufacture of electrical, electronic and optical products
26.7 - Manufacture of optical instruments, magnetic and optical media and photographic equipment
26.70 - Manufacture of optical instruments, magnetic and optical media and photographic equipment

130 - 140 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
7 January 2026
Employment effect (start)
7 January 2026
Foreseen end date
1 January 2030

Description

Germany’s leading optics manufacturer Carl Zeiss plans to cut about one-third of the 400 jobs at its Göttingen site by 2030. The plans were already announced in the summer of 2025, and since then, 20 positions have already been eliminated.

The company aims to secure its competitiveness through the job cuts and is responding to cost pressures and market developments. Part of the production may be relocated abroad.

The IG Metall union and the works council criticise the plans, fearing the entire site is at risk. As no agreement has been reached with the company so far, a conciliation board was called before Christmas 2025.

Carl Zeiss employs around 46,000 people worldwide.


Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2026), Carl Zeiss, Internal restructuring in Germany, factsheet number 203959, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/203959.