Medtronic announces layoffs in Twin Cities

Medtronic, the world's largest medical device maker, is laying off 268 Twin Cites employees. The job cuts are part of a previously announced plan to reduce the company's overall workforce by 4 to 5 percent. At that time, the company did not disclose where job cuts would occur.

"We are globally restructuring our business to align with our customers' needs and with the current business environment," said company spokesman Brian Henry. "We're going to continue to invest where the business is growing, and we're to streamline our business where growth is slowing. And we have begin this week to notify employees whose positions have been eliminated."

Overall, Medtronic says it'll be reducing its workforce by some 2,100 people through layoffs, as well as some early retirement and buyout offers.

The company wouldn't say where the cuts are coming by division or location within the Twin Cities -- or how many Twin Cities employees are leaving voluntarily.

Overall, Medtronic is eliminating 2,100 jobs through layoffs, as well as some early retirement and buyout offers.

Before the cuts, Medtronic had about 41,000 employees worldwide, including 8,000 in Minnesota. Medtronic has said its last big layoffs were in 2009, when it eliminated more than 1,200 positions worldwide.