United Tech Pratt unit to lay off 350

BOSTON (Reuters) - United Technologies Corp's Pratt & Whitney jet engine unit is laying off 350 U.S. workers, less than 1 percent of its staff, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

The workers, 280 of whom are located in Connecticut, hold white-collar salaried positions across the business, spokeswoman Jennifer Whitlow said. The layoffs were effective today.

The cuts reflect the deteriorating world economy, Whitlow said.

"We are trying to reduce out cost structure so we can remain competitive," Whitlow said.

Pratt & Whitney expects to employ about 38,000 people by year end.

(Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Brian Moss)