Auto industry supplier [Wolverine Advanced Materials](http://www.wolverinegasketmaterials.com/ “Wolverine Advanced Materials”) announced this week it is laying off about 50 hourly workers and five salaried employees across its two Blacksburg locations.

The layoffs are considered permanent and take effect today. Job numbers before the layoffs were 205 hourly workers and more than 40 salaried employees.

[North American Housing Corp.](http://www.northamericanhousing.com “North American Housing Corp.”) announced it is idling the company’s modular-home building operation in Boones Mill because of ongoing housing market woes. The Maryland-based company described the measure as temporary.

40 employees will be laid off from modular-home construction, and 12 will remain working in truss and sales operations.

North American will continue to operate its Front Royal facility.

[Cox Communications](http://www.cox.com “Cox Communications”) told employees in Roanoke that they will be part of a national work force reduction. The company has said it will reduce its national work force by 2 percent by the end of the year.

Cox employs about 200 in Roanoke. Some positions will be eliminated through voluntary retirement, and others will be cut through layoffs. The company representative did not say how many local employees will be laid off.

[Read](http://www.roanoke.com/business/wb/186602 “Read the Article”) (Roanoke Times)