The recent layoffs at the Moosehead Brewery in Saint John have many people not only worried about their jobs, but also about the local economy.

Moosehead Breweries announced Thursday that it will be laying off about 70 hourly production employees at its Saint John facility by the end of June 2015.

There are about 144 hourly employees working at the brewery on Main Street.

The company said the reductions are a direct result of the loss of a major brewing and packaging contract announced earlier this year.

Company president Andrew Oland said 40 per cent of the brewery’s business will disappear in June 2015, and efforts to replace the business have been unsuccessful.

Some employees have been working at the brewery for decades but said, if half the workers are laid off, even years of service may not be enough to save their jobs.

“The aging workforce in there certainly puts that middle point of 151 at, sorry to say, 25 years of service,” said union president Rob Edgecombe, who has worked for Moosehead Breweries for 25 years.

As Brian Gallant’s new Liberal government takes power in New Brunswick, the premier-designate is getting ready to look at the issue.

“On Monday and Wednesday of next week, there are sessions for those who would be laid off to look at what their options are and what government programs and other types of support is out there for them,” Gallant said in Fredericton on Friday.

Because of the potential impact on the Saint John economy and on business confidence in the city, the provincial government will be approached for assistance in terms of expediting the early retirement of older workers so younger workers can stay on the payroll.

“If there’s some incentives there or something to push people out from the top that are willing to go, and save the jobs for some families in Saint John, it’s something we’d really like to entertain with government,” said Edgecomb.

Concerns have been expressed about company’s future, but others say losing Moosehead Breweries is unthinkable.

“They’ve weathered a number of storms,” said Deputy Mayor Shelley Rinehart. “So, I do have confidence in that company, that they’re agile. They’ve shown that. They understand that they’ve lost a contract. They’ve cut expenses and I’m sure they’re working hard to secure a new one.”

With files from CTV Atlantic's Mike Cameron.