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Dell Inc. announced additional layoffs at its Forsyth County computer assembly plant Thursday, but as it did for a round of jobs cuts there last month, the company refused to say how many people lost their jobs.

"You can say it is manufacturing and related jobs," said Venancio Figueroa III, a Dell spokesman. "Beyond that, we are not going to provide specifics."

Winston-Salem officials said they had been informed of the layoffs but had not been given any details.

"They were very emphatic about the fact that they were not releasing anything about the number of employees," said Gayle Anderson, president of the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce. "(We know) they are still operating and they are building computers."

Efforts to reach Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines were unsuccessful late Thursday.

Forsyth scored a major recruiting victory in 2004 when it landed Dell’s 1,700-job, $100-million computer factory. The plant opened in 2005 after state and local officials promised economic incentives that could climb to $280 million.

How the recent layoffs have impacted Dell’s incentive package could not be determined Thursday.

"We don’t know because we don’t know what employment numbers are," Anderson said.

At the end of 2008, Dell reported that 1,400 people worked at the plant.

Of late, Dell’s fortunes have taken a significant downturn.

About a year ago, the world’s second largest computer maker said it planned to cut $3 billion from its annual expenses, in part by laying off 8,800 people, or 10 percent, of its global workforce. As of Jan. 30, those cuts had grown to 9,300.

In February, the company reported that a decline in computer sales in the fourth quarter caused its profits to drop 48 percent. That same month, the company raised its savings goal to $4 billion.

Dell has been struggling with thinner margins as PC prices have dropped. In addition, the recession has forced individuals and businesses to postpone computer purchases.

On Thursday, Figueroa called the layoffs "a continuation of the streamlining that we have done for more than a year. What we are doing is enhancing the efficiency of the operation and reducing the cost structure."

He would not explain why Thursday’s layoffs had come so soon after those on March 11.

He said, "Dell continues to review its operations and make the necessary business decisions to reach our goals."

Figueroa also would not speculate about the need for further job cuts.

Thursday’s layoffs were effective immediately. He said those who lost their jobs were given what he called competitive severance packages.

"Any time you have workforce reductions, they are difficult," he said. "(But) these are prudent and necessary actions we took today."

In addition to layoffs, Figueroa said, Dell has implemented a number of cost-saving measures, including travel restrictions, voluntary separations, unpaid time off and salary freezes.

Contact Donald W. Patterson at 373-7027 or don.patterson@news-record.com