PricewaterhouseCoopers laying off 500 technology workers, primarily in Fla.

PricewaterhouseCoopers laying off 500 employees

TAMPA, Fla. — PricewaterhouseCoopers is laying off about 500 in-house information technology employees — most from its offices in Tampa.

The company says the cuts are part of a larger effort to better coordinate IT services in the United States and United Kingdom. The layoffs will slash the ranks of PWC’s IT support staff by nearly half, from 1,100 to 600. Most of the remaining jobs will be based in Tampa.

The consulting and accounting firm employs 31,000 nationwide, and just over 1,800 in Tampa ahead of the cuts. PWC is encouraging affected employees to apply for other open and new positions, and will provide severance packages for those who aren’t rehired.