ALTON, Ill. (AP) — Alton Steel Inc. says it has laid off 62 workers because of less demand in steel markets.

The (Alton) Telegraph reports that’s about a quarter of the company’s workforce. The layoffs went into effect on Sunday. The company said in a release that the reduced scheduling will continue until business conditions improve.

The Alton layoffs are another hit to the southern Illinois steel industry. The announcement comes less than a month after U.S. Steel in Granite City said it would lay off more than 2,000 workers.