A Year After 1,700 Layoffs, Tyson Plans to Reopen Amarillo’s Second Shift

A year ago, Tyson Foods announced it would cut shifts at the Amarillo plant, with operations ending in January 2026. The Amarillo plant transitioned to a single, full-capacity shift. This change eliminated 1,700 jobs in Amarillo. Many people were left scrambling to find new employment. However, jobs will soon be opening back up at Amarillo's Tyson plant.

When Is Tyson's Second Shift Coming Back to Amarillo?

In August 2026, Tyson said it would start ramping up the second shift again after announcing the end of operations at the Joslin, Illinois, beef facility and the Eagle Mountain, Utah, case-ready facility. Then, on Monday, November 9, Tyson announced that the second shift is coming back to the Amarillo facility, bringing much-needed jobs with it. This won't be an immediate change, but the company plans to have the second shift fully functioning by summer 2027.

Why Is Tyson Reopening the Second Shift?

The decision to reopen the second shift is tied to the end of operations at other facilities and a new long-term partnership with Allied Beef Company, a group of American ranchers, to strengthen the domestic cattle supply chain, create more sustainable opportunities for ranchers, and support the company's long-term beef production.

Will Tyson Bring Back the 1,700 Amarillo Jobs?

Tyson did not specify the number of jobs that would open with the restoration of the second shift. We cannot say whether the company plans to bring back the 1,700 jobs lost earlier this year, or whether they will be reaching out to former employees. We do know they will need additional employees. The Tyson career page does not show openings for the second shift yet.

We did reach out to Tyson's team to see if they could provide us with more employment information.

Where Does Tyson Rank Among Amarillo Employers?

Before the second shift ended and jobs were lost in January, Tyson was one of the largest employers in Amarillo. After the layoffs, it dropped to number five.

Read More: Biggest Employers in the Texas Panhandle 2026

Read More: Amarillo's Largest Employers 2022

This announcement was much different from the one last year. The news of the second shift returning will bring a sense of relief, as the job market in Amarillo will now start to beef up in anticipation of these future jobs.