National Education to Lay Off 80 in Restructuring Its Training Group

National Education Corp. will lay off 80 employees in restructuring its money-losing National Education Training Group division.

National Education said its Training Group unit, which reported a $14-million loss in 1994, will also shut offices in the United States and Europe. The Irvine company said it expects to set up a restructuring reserve in the second quarter, although it did not specify the amount.

National Education officials said they expect annual savings of about $5 million from the layoffs, which amount to more than 20% of the unit’s staff, and $4 million from downsizing the division’s office and warehouse space. The unit targeted by the cutbacks is based in Naperville, Ill., and produces interactive multimedia products for training.

The cutbacks are part of an effort to turn National Education toward profitability. The company reported losses of $63.9 million in 1994 and $9.6 million in 1993. The company has already dismantled its ailing Education Centers unit, which operated employee education programs. A company official said the most recent reductions would make National a “leaner, more focused organization.”