WEST CHESTER — Salaried staff at AK Steel may be next to face cuts as the steelmaker continues to be adversely affected by the nationwide economic downturn.

Currently there are 1,500 salaried employees throughout the corporation. The company announced Thursday that it would begin a salaried workforce layoff plan.

The company said in a release, “it hopes the layoffs are temporary, a continuation of the economic downtown could result in some or all of the layoffs becoming permanent job reductions.”

The release did not state any specific plant locations that would be affected.