--- title: "Winnebago Plans 51 More Layoffs After Cutting Over 300 Iowa Jobs Last Year" url: "https://camperfaqs.com/winnebago-plans-51-more-layoffs-after-cutting-over-300-iowa-jobs-last-year" author: "Tory Jon" published: "2026-10-15T09:42:07-05:00" modified: "2026-10-15T09:42:09-05:00" --- # Winnebago Plans 51 More Layoffs After Cutting Over 300 Iowa Jobs Last Year Winnebago Industries is preparing to cut another 51 jobs at its Forest City, Iowa, facility. It's the company's second layoff announcement at the plant in just two months, following a year in which hundreds of Iowa workers already lost their jobs. The latest cuts bring the number of employees affected by Winnebago's two 2026 Forest City layoff announcements to 78. And they come as the RV manufacturer continues shifting production between its factories in Iowa and Indiana. ## Another 51 Jobs Will Be Eliminated in November According to [Iowa Workforce Development's WARN records](https://workforce.iowa.gov/employers/resources/warn), Winnebago filed its latest layoff notice on October 9, 2026. The notice covers 51 employees at the company's 605 West Crystal Lake Road facility in Forest City. Their layoffs are scheduled to take effect on November 9. A separate notice filed August 13 identified another 27 employees at the same location, with those layoffs scheduled for November 30. Both notices are classified as mass layoffs under the state's Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) system, which requires advance notice of certain workforce reductions. The latest cuts affect Winnebago's specialty vehicles operation, according to the *Des Moines Register*. That's a part of Winnebago's business many RV owners may be less familiar with. Beyond its recreational motorhomes, [Winnebago's Specialty Vehicles division](https://www.winnebago.com/lifestyle/winnebagolife/showroom/winnebago-specialty-vehicles-offer-creative-custom-solutions-for-mobile-services) builds customized commercial vehicles. Its products include mobile medical clinics, blood donation vehicles, bookmobiles, mobile offices, and other specialized units. The company has not publicly detailed which positions within that operation will be eliminated. ## Winnebago Already Cut More Than 300 Iowa Jobs in 2025 The newest announcement follows a much larger round of workforce reductions. As the *Des Moines Register* [reported](https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/business/2026/10/13/winnebago-layoffs-forest-city-iowa-plant/92237440007/) on October 13, Winnebago laid off 311 Iowa workers in 2025 and closed its manufacturing facilities in Waverly and Charles City. Those reductions affected multiple locations across northern Iowa, including Forest City, Lake Mills, Waverly, and Charles City. Now, with another 78 Forest City jobs scheduled to be eliminated in November, Winnebago's workforce reductions are continuing into a second year. The company has also changed where it builds its RVs. ## Winnebago Is Consolidating Its RV Production In August, Winnebago announced plans to reorganize manufacturing operations in Iowa and Indiana. Under the changes outlined in the company's [August 13 announcement](https://winnebago.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/winnebago-industries-announces-strategic-manufacturing-alignment/): - Winnebago would move production of Class B camper vans from Lake Mills, Iowa, to the company's main motorhome facility in Forest City. - Winnebago would move towable RV production to a facility already used by Grand Design RV in Middlebury, Indiana. - The Lake Mills motorhome facility and the former Winnebago Towables manufacturing campus in Middlebury would close and eventually be offered for sale. - Grand Design would also consolidate selected production lines. Winnebago said the changes would help the company better match its manufacturing capacity to demand and make greater use of its existing factories. Company CEO Michael Happe described the restructuring as an effort to improve efficiency and prepare the business for future growth. The company also said it did not expect the changes to disrupt production, dealer relationships, warranty support, or customer service. No product lines were being discontinued as part of the announcement. Winnebago has not publicly confirmed that the latest 51 specialty-vehicle layoffs directly result from those manufacturing changes. ## RV Sales Have Been Under Pressure The workforce cuts come during a challenging period for the broader RV market. In its [third-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings report](https://winnebago.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/winnebago-industries-reports-third-quarter-fiscal-2026-results), released June 25, Winnebago reported revenue of $698.7 million, down 9.9% from $775.1 million during the same period a year earlier. The company pointed to cautious consumer spending, higher fuel costs, and conservative ordering by RV dealers. There were some encouraging results within the business. Winnebago's motorhome division improved its sales and profitability compared with the previous year, even as lower volumes in its towable RV and marine businesses weighed on overall revenue. Still, Winnebago has continued adjusting production and staffing as it responds to market conditions. The company is scheduled to report its fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 financial results on October 21, which should provide another look at its recent performance. For now, the next confirmed workforce reductions are scheduled for November 9 and November 30 in Forest City, where the two announced rounds of layoffs will affect 78 employees.