I have empathy for lose who will soon be on the street looking inward. Having worked as a purchased services employee at Ford up to two weeks ago I saw this one coming as soon as Ford announced the restructuring. Thankfully, my IT experience outside automotive paid off as I purposely mounted an intense job search out of state, out of the auto industry for the past 12 months. Having started my new job 2 weeks ago, I am looking back in the rear view mirror, very happy to have left. With the GM reduction and now this one, Detroit is not a very enticing place to be. I'm lucky because I did not have to relocate but instead work from home now.
I really feel for the former co-workers who have their entire career tied up at Ford. What are they going to do? I too, have been let go at other companies during mergers/acquisitions and staff reductions. It is stressful. That's why it is always important to reinvent yourself every few years to maintain current skills.
My recommendation is to look outside Michigan if you can. All I can say is that things will work out, maybe not to the best of your wishes, but they will. I'm sorry to say that if you are a mature worker that you may find that your next position does not compensate you as well as your current job based on numerous articles I've read. I am blessed that I was able to move on to a new job that compensates me better, but I will never forget the first time I was part of a workforce reduction and promised myself I would not be surprised again. This week's news comes as no surprise!