Jena, August 16, 2026 – The medical technology group Carl Zeiss Meditec has specified its announced austerity program, expecting a global reduction of 600 to 700 jobs. For the headquarters in Jena, where approximately 640 employees are based, the exact extent of the cuts is currently still open.
- Event: Specification of the global austerity program by Carl Zeiss Meditec
- Job cuts: 600 to 700 jobs affected worldwide (previously up to 1,000)
- Jena location: Approximately 640 employees; specific figures on cuts are still pending
- Main reasons: Weakening business in China and the USA as well as declining profits
Economic reasons and weakening markets
During the presentation of the quarterly figures, CFO Justus Felix Wehmer pointed primarily to declining business in China and the USA. After nine months of the 2025/26 fiscal year, group revenue fell by 2.9 percent to 1.554 billion euros. Ophthalmology in particular is weighing on the balance sheet, as revenues here declined by 4.8 percent. Among other things, an important bifocal lens lost its place in a Chinese state procurement process.
Furthermore, the adjusted EBITA in the nine-month period fell significantly from 177 to 124.5 million euros, and the corresponding margin dropped from 11.1 to 8.0 percent. To secure the earnings situation sustainably, the company is now pushing ahead with structural changes.
Uncertainty for employees at the Jena site
For the 640 employees in Jena, uncertainty prevails for the time being. The company is currently holding talks with employee representatives. At the same time, the group is examining whether affected employees can be transferred to other areas within the corporate group, such as the semiconductor division, which continues to report a need for personnel. As part of the international restructuring, Carl Zeiss Meditec also plans to shift production and development more strongly to regions with lower costs, such as India and China.
Key data on the global austerity program
The program, which is scheduled to run until the 2028/29 fiscal year, is intended to significantly improve the group’s earnings base:
- Objective: Annual earnings improvement of more than 200 million euros.
- Infrastructure costs: Around 40 million euros of the savings are required solely to offset increased IT and infrastructure costs as well as for the new high-tech site.
- Net effect: More than 160 million euros are expected to remain as a permanent earnings improvement.
- Forecast: For the full year, the group expects revenue between 2.15 and 2.20 billion euros with an adjusted EBITA margin of 8 to 10 percent.
Background: The importance of Zeiss for Jena
The name Carl Zeiss has been inextricably linked to the “City of Light” Jena and the regional economy for over a century. As one of the largest employers and drivers of innovation in Thuringia, the technology group significantly shapes the region’s reputation as a high-tech location. Consequently, politics, employee representatives, and the public react sensitively to announced restructurings and personnel reviews at the main plant.
Source:
Carl Zeiss Meditec cuts up to 700 jobs – Jena must also expect cuts
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.