BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (AP) - Whirlpool Corp. said Tuesday it will create up to 400 new jobs in Michigan as part of the consolidation of its corporate offices and other operations.
The addition of the jobs come on the heels of the company's announcement last week that it will eliminate 4,500 jobs and close three plants as a result of its acquisition of former rival Maytag Corp.
The jobs, which represent positions at former Maytag offices, are expected to be filled over the next two years, and some former Maytag employees are expected to be rehired to fill a portion of them.
The new jobs at the appliance maker's Benton Harbor, MI, headquarters and other Michigan locations are in addition to the company's previously announced plans to add a total of about 1,100 jobs at two Ohio plants.
The jobs, related to the expansion of the company's Ohio-based laundry-manufacturing operations, will be split evenly between its existing facilities in Clyde and Marion.
Equipment installation and hiring for those jobs is scheduled to begin this summer, with production to begin before the end of the year.
Whirlpool shares fell 43 cents to $88.87 in morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange.