is laying off abouta quarter of its salaried non-union workforce in North America as the embattledsteelmaker struggles with weak demand and low prices, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported April 6.

The steelproducer employs about 21,000 employees across North America, and 3,000 of themare non-union workers. The cuts affect about 750 people.

The companysaid in an email to the news outlet that the cuts will affect management and blue-collarworkers, and will depend on operational and business needs.

The companyhas reduced its workforce in North America by 2,000 people over the past five years,the report stated.

In March,the company was said to be axing 770workers for its planned idling of its Lone Star tubular operations inTexas and Fairfield steelworks in Alabama.

U.S.Steel booked a net lossof US$1.51 billion in 2015 as falling energy prices and increased low-cost , among others,are hurting demand and lowering prices.