We’ve been trying without success to reach Verizon officials about persistent reports that the company is reducing its workforce in little Rock, particularly among some higher-paid employees. still nothing official, but I have received a note from a reliable source whose spouse, an engineer, has been informed he must decide by mid-October on a move to a Verizon facility in new Jersey. The note says as many as 300 people in various departments could be affected, either by transfer or layoff. If the number is true, it’s an economic lick, particularly if it affects higher pay levels. anybody else with knowledge of this situation?

(Another friend reports a long-time Alltel/Verizon employee has been given the option of a move to Texas by October or dismissal.)

Last spring, Verizon had said it hoped to employ more than 2,000 in little Rock, down from the 3,000 employed when Alltel owned the campus and other facilities now owned by Verizon. But that 2,000 number was up from a workforce that had been expected to be reduced to 1,300. The increase came from a regional call center.

Verizon’s situation has similarities to trends noted in this new York Times story today — newly created jobs are sometimes lower quality than ones workers previously had. The middle is suffering.