HP plans to jettison 27,000 workers as the growing popularity of smartphones, the iPad and other mobile devices makes it tougher for the company to sell personal computers.

The cuts will affect about 8% of HP's nearly 350,000 workers worldwide.

The company has about 3,000 employees in Roseville.

Megan MacPherson is with the City of Roseville. She says HP has been a big part of the town's economy since opening its 116-acre campus in 1979.

"HP does buy a lot of materials and supplies in the city and that does have an effect on sales tax. A lot of contractors do provide services to the HP facility. So the kind of effect that that could have remains to be seen because we just don't know what the numbers are yet."

MacPherson says the city does not know how many local employees will lose their jobs.

"We don't have that information quite yet. But we'll work with Chambers of Commerce, with the private sector to make sure that any displaced workers will know of opportunities available locally so they can stay in our region. They're a hugely important part of our community, of our economic health and of the prosperity of this region." 

HP also has offices in Sacramento and Folsom.

Company officials say they hope to avoid many layoffs by offering early retirement packages.