Boeing announced Monday afternoon that over the next three years it will move significant defense work out of the Puget Sound region in Washington state, affecting the jobs of about 2,000 employees.

Some workers with critical skills will be offered relocation to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and St. Louis, Missouri. Others may find local jobs at Boeing’s commercial jet unit.

The number of layoffs won’t be known until Boeing finds out how many people relocate, transfer or choose to leave.

The jet maker currently employs a total of about 5,200 people in defense work in the region.

Boeing’s plan will not affect the two major Boeing defense programs based in the region — the 767-based Air Force tanker and the 737-based P-8 anti-submarine jet.