By March 2010, Sony plans to reduce headcount in the electronics business worldwide by approximately 8,000.

Sony will layoff five percent of its worldwide workforce and close six manufacturing plants in response to what the company described in a statement as "the sudden and rapid changes in the global economic environment." Company officials said Sony will withdraw from unprofitable or non-core businesses.

Following the rapid demand slowdown in television markets, Sony will postpone plans to expand production at the Nitra plant in Slovakia, one of Sony's sites assembling LCD televisions for the European market. The company plans to reduce the total number of manufacturing sites by approximately 10%, from the current total of 57, by March 31, 2010.

As a result of these measures, by March 31, 2010, Sony plans to reduce headcount in the electronics business worldwide by approximately 8,000, out of approximately 160,000. At the same time, Sony plans to reduce headcount in its seasonal and temporary workforces.