Charlotte Company Laying Off Workers and Moving To Mexico

Nearly 80 people working in North Carolina will soon be looking for employment elsewhere. A Charlotte company laying off factory workers and moving to Mexico.

Columbus McKinnon is an industrial manufacturing company that moved their corporate headquarters from Buffalo, New York to Charlotte back in 2022. According to our source, the Charlotte Observer, the plant plans to close a local factory next month. 79 people will lose their jobs. And operations for the company will make the trek to Mexico.

The company made a statement that was published in the Charlotte Observer that says the move was a "difficult decision". The Duff-Norton facility of Columbus McKinnon has reportedly set September 29 as the closing date. The company makes lifting devices, hoists and conveyor belts. This particular division also makes things like screw jacks, rotary unions and other devices.

Back in the day, when the company first moved to Charlotte, the Observer reported that their products could move "everything from a nearly 50 ton airplane wing to theater lighting". Car manufacturers also use their products and services.

The layoffs will happen in phases. 73 will go in September and another 6 in March of 2025. In a letter to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the company cites "ongoing and continued poor plant performance" as the reason for closing down. They report that they will assist employees with the transition.

The company says that while they are shutting down operations at their Duff-Norton facility, they will continue to invest in North Carolina. The company operates two floors of a building at Ballantyne Corporate Place. Columbus McKinnon has a reported 3,000 employees across the globe.

Remote jobs are still a big trend, even following the pandemic. So, what are the most in-demand, high-paying remote jobs out there right now? For those who would rather work at home, the good news is that there are more options today than there were in the past. During the pandemic, many companies discovered that employing remote workers had benefits to them, including savings in infrastructure and other costs. Many workers discovered that it fit their lifestyles and personalities, too. So, it's a win-win for a certain segment of the population.

Before we get into those in-demand, high-paying remote jobs, let's look at some companies that are actively hiring remote workers. The experts at Forbes.com have a new feature out highlighting some companies that are looking for remote workers right now. No. 1 on the list is GitLab, which they describe as "an AI-powered DevSecOps platform that allows software developers to collaborate and deliver projects with full compliance and security." They add that GitLab currently has more than 100 remote job openings available in a variety of departments, including sales, marketing product and user experience, engineering, security, admin, HR, legal and more. Another big one on Forbes.com's tally is Buffer at No. 2. Buffer is a social media marketing software company. According to the article, they're "actively seeking to add to their remote team with roles for a senior front-end and senior back-end engineer." Other choice companies include Automattic, Toggle and Kona. A separate Forbes.com article also cites Canonical, Veeva and Invisible Technologies as companies hiring remote workers. So, the jobs are out there, but you might be working with a company that you're not familiar with yet.

It's also worth noting that salaries in 2024 are not what they were years ago. A new study from the experts at Ladders revealed some interesting information about salaries in 2024 and what they can actually buy. According to the study, if you want to have the buying power of a job that had an annual salary of $100,000 in 1994, you would need to pull in more than $200,000 a year in 2024. So, it shows how inflation has impacted the buying power of salaries over the past three decades. Also, the same study notes that while finding a job that pays more than $100,000 a year that's also a remote job is more difficult today than it was a few years ago, one industry that is leading the way in remote jobs is fintech, which stands for financial technology. But, it doesn't stop at fintech. Let's get into the best industries to find in-demand, high-paying remote jobs, from sources such as Money.USNews.com, CNBC.com and more.

Did you know that reviewing documents can make big bucks? According to CNBC.com, being a document reviewer can pay an average salary of $123,427. They also say it's one of the most in-demand remote jobs of the moment.

A different Forbes.com article says software engineers are an in-demand, high-paying remote option. "Software engineers are the backbone of fintechs," they explain, "and plays a crucial role in developing software for financial solutions, being the brains behind innovative financial products including emerging spaces such as blockchain and AI, and developing and integrating APIs while ensuring the products are compliant with financial regulations and are optimized for security."

The experts at Money.USNews.com have web developer as an in-demand remote job, making a median salary of $78,580. They note that the education required is a bachelor's degree. "Web developers maintain, troubleshoot and create websites to ensure they’re effective for business, health care, technology, education or whatever service they provide," they state.

The same Money.USNews.com article says their pick for the best remote job is financial manager. They make a median salary of $139,790. "They keep an eye on the finances of an organization and make reports on financial activity," they note. There are other jobs in the financial sector that are also great for remote workers, such as being an accountant or financial planner.

One hot job for remote talent, according to Forbes.com, is a content writer. So, what does a content writer do? "Content writers create written content for various platforms such as websites, blogs, and email marketing, which engages and informs audiences, with the goal of making sales and increasing brand awareness," they explain.

Believe it or not, being a general physician can be a great remote job. According to Insider Money (via MSN.com), general physicians make around $110 per hour. "A remote general physician provides medical care to patients via telecommunications technologies, offering consultations, diagnoses, and treatment recommendations remotely," they explain.

Forbes.com notes that being an editor is a good remote gig. "Remote editors work for magazines and journals, and other news publications, and they review and sometimes revise content to ensure accuracy and that the correct writing style is adhered to," they explain. They add that editors also make sure that "content meets publication guidelines."

If you're good with social media and have the professional history to prove it, being a social media manager could be a great remote role for you. According to CNBC.com, the average social media manager makes $81,329 annually. For this job, you have to keep up with all of the latest social media trends.

Many tech companies hire remote workers. For one, many of them are startups, so they don't want to spend money on the infrastructure of having people in an office. But, in general, tech jobs line up very well with remote work. According to Tech.co, Apple is a big one hiring right now.

​