The Decibel Ontario colleges see alarming job losses
Jul 21, 2025
Joe Friesen, a post-secondary education reporter for the Globe and Mail, delves into the alarming job losses at Ontario colleges, revealing that over 8,000 positions have vanished since January 2024. He discusses the devastating fallout of new international student policies, highlighting personal stories from affected educators. Friesen also addresses how colleges' heavy reliance on international fees has exposed them to financial peril, raising pressing questions about the sector's future and the potential scarcity of skilled graduates.
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Massive Job Losses in Ontario Colleges
- Ontario colleges lost more than 8,000 jobs since January 2024 due to federal limits on international students.
- This is one of the largest industry layoffs noted recently, showing the severity of the sector's crisis.
Instructor's Career Disrupted
- College instructor Shannon Nelson went from teaching over five courses to only one.
- She applied to more than a hundred jobs, highlighting the dire impact on educators' livelihoods.
Ontario Most Affected Province
- Ontario colleges are the hardest hit due to large reliance on international student fees.
- Similar effects occur elsewhere in Canada but are less visible or severe so far.