Employment numbers plummet below 400 at IBM’s Columbia facility

Employment numbers at the Columbia IBM facility have plummeted below 400 people.

ABC 17 News obtained the latest job report through an open records request, showing the facility employes just 388 people, down significantly from previous reports.

ABC 17’s Jillian Fertig has been investigating the company since the beginning of this year. ABC 17 News first aired a report back in May about job numbers.

IBM came to Columbia back in 2010. The company promised 800 jobs in return for $28 million in tax incentives.

The company has never reached the promised 800 jobs.

The Department of Economic Development said back in May the Columbia facility employed 453 people. DED suspended the tax credits under the Missouri BUILD program because numbers fell below requirements.

Many former and current employees came forward, saying the facility did not really even employ 453 people; that the actual number was much lower.

And now the latest job report shows the number at just 388. Some tax credits and programs remain suspended.