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Drug maker Amgen's expansion to Tampa comes with job cuts, transfers at California headquarters

 
Amgen's capability center will occupy four floors of Corporate Center One at 2202 N. Westshore Blvd. in Tampa, bringing up to 450 jobs by the end of 2018. [Handout photo]
Amgen's capability center will occupy four floors of Corporate Center One at 2202 N. Westshore Blvd. in Tampa, bringing up to 450 jobs by the end of 2018. [Handout photo]
Published March 27, 2017

Tampa's gain appears to be California's loss. In the same week drug manufacturer Amgen unveiled plans to expand to Tampa and build a $25 million "capability center" with 450 jobs by the end of 2018, the company also said nearly 500 California employees will see their jobs change or disappear in the coming 18 months. Based in Thousand Oaks, Calif., Amgen expects to transfer about 50 staffers to the new Tampa center, which will occupy four floors of Corporate Center One at 2202 N. Westshore Blvd. Workers will support the company's global business with human resources, information and financial services.

Other Amgen transfers are likely from various sites but the bulk of new Tampa jobs is expected to be local hires. Amgen said the availability of skilled labor, proximity to other Amgen locations on the East Coast and abroad, and the area's lifestyle and cost of living were all considerations in choosing Tampa. Amgen, with $23 billion in revenues last year and close to 20,000 employees worldwide, did not specify how many of the 500 affected California workers would be losing their jobs.