Insurance company Kemper Corporation announced Thursday it has laid off 339 employees, including 39 in Alabama, citing “the longer-term economic impacts of the pandemic—primarily significant prolonged inflation.”

“Like most insurance carriers, particularly those who write personal lines, the longer-term economic impacts of the pandemic—primarily significant prolonged inflation—have required us to make changes to our businesses which have led to a lower volume of policies in-force,” Chicago-based Kemper said in a statement to AL.com. “That reduced volume means we have to respond accordingly, including making some tough but necessary decisions to adjust our employee count.”

“Nationwide, we laid off just over 3 percent , or 339 employees, including 39 employees in Alabama,” the statement went on to say.

Employees who were laid off were able to apply for other roles with the company “and were provided with further instructions,” Kemper said.