N&s locating services layoffs In 2025, an unexpectedly large workforce reduction at N&S Locating Services, also known in part as S&N Infrastructure, drew attention from industry observers, labor advocates, and community members across North Carolina. This event marked a significant moment for a company with deep roots in infrastructure and utility services. The situation speaks to broader themes in employment risk, contract dependency, and economic change in specialized sectors. In this article, we will explore what happened, why it happened, how the layoffs were handled, the impacts on employees, and the lessons that other businesses and workers might take away from this experience.
Who Is N&S Locating Services?
Before diving into the layoffs, it is helpful to understand the company at the heart of this story. N&S Locating Services is part of S&N Infrastructure, a provider of infrastructure support services focused primarily on underground utility locating, damage prevention, and related field operations. The company’s work supports critical utility infrastructure, including telecommunications, power, water, and gas pipelines, by using technologies such as ground‑penetrating radar (GPR) and electromagnetic detection to identify the precise locations of buried lines before excavation or construction work begins.
Over the years, the company built a reputation for serving utility providers and contractors across several southeastern U.S. states, particularly in North Carolina where rapid expansion of fiber‑optic networks and other utilities created high demand for locating services. The company’s Youngsville field office was a hub of activity and employment in the region, maintaining field technicians, support staff, and managers who worked on projects with demanding schedules and tight delivery timeframes.
What Happened: The 2025 Layoff Announcement
In mid‑August 2025, N&S Locating Services filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notice with the North Carolina Department of Commerce signaling an upcoming reduction in force. The WARN Act is a federal law that requires employers with 100 or more employees to provide at least 60 days’ notice before a significant layoff or plant closing. This gives workers and communities time to prepare for job transitions, seek retraining opportunities, and adjust to income changes.
The filing revealed that 126 employees who worked at the Youngsville, North Carolina, facility would be laid off as a result of the company’s decision to permanently separate these staff from their roles. The effective date of separation was tied to early September 2025, following the required notice period.
The layoffs directly affected technicians responsible for utility locating, field support staff, and other essential personnel who had supported ongoing contracts in the state. Because these jobs were non‑union positions without formal bumping rights, many affected workers had no internal avenues for reassignment or alternative employment within the company’s broader operations.
Why the Layoffs Occurred: Loss of a Major Contract
The central reason for the layoffs was the abrupt loss of a major client contract with Brightspeed, an internet service provider that was a significant source of business for N&S Locating Services in North Carolina. Brightspeed had engaged the company to provide utility locating services as part of its expansive fiber‑optic network deployment across rural and suburban regions of the state. The partnership funded much of N&S Locating Services’ field operations and played a substantial role in revenue generation.
Industry reporting described the loss of the Brightspeed contract as “unanticipated,” suggesting that the Nigerian provider’s decision came without sufficient warning. In a notice to employees, the company confirmed that this revenue shortfall would severely impact its financial outlook in the region, leaving it with no viable alternative but to eliminate the roles tied to that engagement.
Without the Brightspeed contract, the volume of ongoing work in North Carolina dropped sharply. Utility locating is by nature tied to project pipelines and contract schedules, and the sudden exit of a major customer can create an operational vacuum that is difficult to fill in short order. N&S Locating Services faced rising fixed costs tied to field equipment, vehicles, and office leases that were scaled to match the workload generated by that contract. When the work evaporated, those cost commitments became unsustainable.
The Role of Contract Dependency
The reality behind this story reflects a business structure that is not uncommon in specialized service sectors: heavy reliance on a few key contracts for a majority of revenue. Such dependency can be efficient when client engagements are stable, predictable, and long‑lasting. But when one customer accounts for a large share of income, any shift in that relationship can quickly destabilize an entire division or workforce.
For N&S Locating Services, the Brightspeed contract underpinned much of its North Carolina operations. Industry observers noted that contracts with large telecom firms often include performance metrics, tight delivery schedules, and cost pressures that leave vendors like N&S with little margin for error. When a client changes strategy, chooses a competitor, or internalizes work that was previously outsourced, the fallout can be dramatic.
This situation highlights a broader risk for companies in contract‑dependent industries. Diversifying the client base can protect businesses from the shock of losing any single source of income. It can also create more stability for employees, especially field staff whose livelihoods depend on long‑term work availability.
What the WARN Act Means for Workers
The WARN Act was intended to shield employees from sudden mass layoffs by requiring advance notice. In the case of N&S Locating Services, the company complied by providing the required notice to both employees and state officials.
Under WARN, employers who fail to give sufficient notice to affected workers can be held liable for back pay and benefits for the period of violation. The inclusion of this step in the process reflects a critical piece of employment law that aims to protect workers’ rights and give impacted employees breathing room to plan their next steps.
However, even minimal compliance with WARN only guarantees time for adjustment, not long‑term job security. While workers received 60 days of notice and pay, that window might not be sufficient for them to find new positions, especially in fields where demand can vary by season, contract cycles, and industry investment levels.
The Human Side: Impact on Workers and Communities
Behind any layoff announcement are individuals whose livelihoods, routines, and plans are affected. In small communities like Youngsville and surrounding areas of Franklin County, the impact extended beyond paychecks. Workers with years of experience in underground utility locating faced sudden uncertainty, forced to reassess their career paths or seek relocation to find new opportunities.
Many of the affected employees had spent years honing their craft with utility locating technology and field operations. These jobs often require certifications and specialized skills that are not always directly portable to unrelated fields, which can make career transitions especially challenging.
Local career centers and workforce development agencies often step in to offer assistance in such situations. These organizations provide resume help, workshops, job placement resources, and retraining opportunities for laid‑off workers. While this support can ease the transition, it does not erase the financial and emotional strain experienced by workers and their families.
Broader Industry Pressures in Utility Services
The layoffs at N&S Locating Services did not occur in a vacuum. They reflect broader pressures in the utility services and infrastructure sectors. The ongoing expansion of fiber‑optic networks, particularly driven by federal funding initiatives like the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, has spurred demand for locating and installation services. But these programs create cyclical work that can surge quickly and then contract just as fast.
Competition is significant in this industry, with larger firms such as USIC and Schneider Geospatial establishing national footprints and economies of scale. These companies often bid aggressively for large contracts, placing pressure on smaller or mid‑sized providers to keep pace. In such environments, performance guarantees and cost competitiveness can play a decisive role in contract decisions.
Moreover, labor market conditions have evolved in recent years, with shortages of skilled field technicians driving up wages and benefits. This trend increases operating costs for all companies, narrowing margins and making sudden revenue drops even harder to absorb.
Employee Perspectives and Company Culture
Beyond the layoffs themselves, employee reviews and comments offer insight into the company’s internal culture and operations. Some feedback from job review platforms suggested concerns about management, job security, and organizational direction prior to the layoffs. Workers noted issues related to decision‑making, communication, and planning that predated the workforce reduction.
Such feedback does not excuse the layoffs, but it points to areas where companies might improve resilience and engagement. Transparent communication, career development pathways, and strong internal culture can help employees navigate periods of change more confidently, even when external forces are at play.
What Comes Next: Company Outlook and Potential Path Forward
Following the layoffs, N&S Locating Services has not provided extensive public statements beyond the WARN filing. However, the broader goals of the parent company, S&N Infrastructure, suggest that sections of the business outside North Carolina have continued operations. Leadership may be exploring diversification strategies, including focusing on other service divisions such as overhead power distribution or expanding into gas and energy sectors.
Industry practitioners suggest that companies facing contract loss may pivot by seeking new partnerships, pursuing emerging infrastructure projects, or integrating technologies that enhance operational efficiency. For example, AI‑assisted locating tools promise greater accuracy and speed, potentially providing a competitive edge.
Ultimately, rebuilding after layoffs involves balancing current operational realities with future growth strategies. It requires commitment from leadership to adapt, a willingness to reassess risk models, and a focus on sustainable client relationships that do not expose the business to sudden spikes or drops in workload.
Lessons for Workers and Employers
The layoffs at N&S Locating Services offer several takeaways for both employees and business leaders:
-
Diversify Client Bases: Heavy reliance on one or a few large clients increases vulnerability to sudden business changes. Companies should seek to broaden their portfolio of contracts wherever possible.
-
Invest in Workforce Development: Providing training and development opportunities for employees increases agility, enabling workers to transition into other fields when necessary.
-
Embrace Transparent Communication: Open dialogue with employees about business challenges fosters trust and can mitigate uncertainty when shifts occur.
-
Plan for Market Fluctuations: Economic conditions change rapidly. Businesses should model scenarios and build contingency plans that include workforce strategies.
-
Support Laid‑Off Workers: Providing robust support such as career counseling, networking opportunities, and retraining assistance reflects responsible leadership and strengthens community resilience.
Final Thoughts
Layoffs are never easy. They impact livelihoods, shake communities, and raise challenging questions about economic stability. The case of N&S Locating Services is a nuanced example of how contract dependency, market forces, and industry competition converge to produce significant employment changes. By understanding the causes and consequences of these layoffs, workers and employers can better prepare for a future that includes evolving business landscapes, technological shifts, and economic transitions.
The experience of N&S Locating Services stands as a reminder that industries built on specialized services require thoughtful planning, strong communication, and adaptable strategies. For the individuals affected, the journey forward includes resilience, new opportunities, and the hope that future chapters of their careers will build on the skills they brought to the field each day.