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Recently, a group of my students reached out with a surprising concern. They had heard that my institution had issued layoff notices to faculty members and wanted to ensure I wasn’t among those affected. Some even offered to write letters to my department chair and dean in support of keeping me on. I reassured them I was unaffected and shared my gratitude for their thoughtfulness. Their kindness touched me deeply, but it also reflected the harsh reality we are facing in post-secondary education (PSE) today.
Serving on various committees within my institution and in the field, I’ve witnessed inspiring colleagues receive layoff notices. The sense of loss is palpable. We are not merely losing jobs; we are losing expertise, mentorship and the human connections that make learning meaningful.
And yet, this is not the first time PSE has faced existential challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic forced an overnight pivot to online learning, pushing institutions to adapt at unprecedented speed. We grappled with mental health crises, digital divides and the collision of life roles as homes became classrooms and offices. Despite these challenges, we found ways to support students and each other. We adapted. We endured. We’re still here.
Today’s layoffs present a different kind of crisis, one that tests not just our operational resilience but our sense of purpose and community. I see this article as a love note to post-secondary education and the professionals who sustain it. While the situation is dire, I believe in our collective ability to navigate these turbulent waters leveraging the very career development principles we teach our students.
The current reality of layoffs in PSE
Post-secondary institutions across Canada are facing significant financial strain. Declining enrolments, shifting demographics, reduced public funding and rising operational costs have created a perfect storm.
Ken Steele, a leading higher education futurist, has been meticulously tracking job impacts across Canadian PSE through his Eduvation platform. His data paints a sobering picture: As of May 2025, there have been over 7,800 reported layoffs, early retirements and positions eliminated in Canadian post-secondary institutions since fall of last year.
“We are not merely losing jobs; we are losing expertise, mentorship and the human connections that make learning meaningful.”
For those affected, the personal and professional toll is immense. Beyond the financial implications, there is a profound impact on career identity and self-concept. Many of us entered this field driven by a deep commitment to student success and community impact. When that role is taken away, it challenges our sense of who we are.
The emotional fallout also extends beyond those who receive layoff notices – affecting leaders and colleagues who remain.
Practising what we preach: Career resilience in action
Career services colleagues dedicate their work to helping others navigate job loss, career transitions and uncertain futures. Yet when the roles are reversed, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed – even paralyzed.
In these moments, we must remember: we are our own best advisors.
The same tools and strategies we offer to students and community members – network building, skills articulation, tailored applications – are the ones we need to embrace for ourselves. But career development is not just about doing; it’s also about being and feeling. The cognitive, affective and behavioural dimensions of our work are equally relevant.
- Cognitive: How does job loss affect our self-concept and career identity? Can we reframe this experience as a chapter, not an ending?
- Affective: How do we manage the emotional highs and lows: the grief, anger, and fear that accompany such transitions?
- Behavioural: How do we stay action-oriented, even when motivation feels scarce?
Through my work supporting colleagues across the country who received layoff notices, I’ve seen how vital it is to approach this process holistically. It’s not enough to polish a resume. We must also tend to the emotional and identity-related aspects of career disruption.
Only by integrating the cognitive reframing of our self-concept, managing the emotional turbulence with compassion and taking practical, intentional steps forward can we move ahead with clarity and confidence.
The invisible toll: Survivor’s guilt and workload creep
While much attention rightly goes to those who lose their jobs, we must also acknowledge the emotional weight carried by those who remain. For many, the aftermath of layoffs brings a complex blend of relief and “survivor’s guilt.”
Colleagues who remain often face increased workloads as they absorb tasks once shared among a larger team. The pressure to “do more with less” can quickly lead to burnout, disengagement and a diminished sense of workplace community.
To those feeling this strain, my advice is twofold:
- Give yourself permission to feel. Relief, guilt, sadness, even anger are natural reactions. If these feelings start interfering with your well-being, seek support through employee assistance programs or trusted networks.
- Have honest conversations with your supervisors. Advocate for workload prioritization. Clarify what is essential versus what can be paused or reimagined. Remember, setting boundaries is not selfish; it’s sustainable.
There is also an opportunity to maintain connections with departed colleagues. Reaching out, offering support or simply staying in touch can be a healing act for both parties. Sometimes, the path to personal resilience lies in collective care.
Humane leadership in inhumane systems
Leaders in post-secondary institutions are often caught between a rock and a hard place. They are tasked with implementing difficult decisions within rigid institutional frameworks, where the language of layoffs becomes procedural, sanitized and detached from human realities.
Yet, even within these constraints, some leaders manage to lead with care.
I know of a leader who, despite having to deliver layoff notices using institutional language, took extra steps to acknowledge the personal contributions of affected staff. After formal notifications, they reached out individually to offer gratitude, highlight support services and even offer personal career conversations. These gestures, while small, make a profound difference.
But for every example of compassionate leadership, there are many instances where the process feels cold, detached and transactional. This inconsistency underscores the need for more human-centred approaches in institutional decision-making, especially in times of crisis.
Challenge Factory has written extensively on the importance of courageous leadership in times of disruption. Their work reminds us that leadership is not about avoiding hard decisions, but rather, how those decisions are enacted.
Leaders must remember: layoffs are human events. The way we handle them reverberates through institutional culture long after the notices are sent.
Reframing the future: Career development as a guiding framework
In the face of layoffs and institutional strain, where do we turn for guidance? The answer lies, in part, within our own professional frameworks.
CERIC’s Guiding Principles of Career Development offer a powerful lens through which we can navigate this moment. Principles such as “Career development is a lifelong process,” “Career development is more than just work” and “Career development is supported by community and relationships” are not theoretical ideals; they are actionable truths.
Whether you are facing job loss, supporting affected colleagues or leading through uncertainty, remember this: The principles of career development we champion for others are the very tools that will carry us through.
Hope through action
These are difficult times for post-secondary education. The layoffs are real. The emotional toll is heavy. But this is not the end of our story.
Each time we have weathered a storm, we have drawn on our collective strength, creativity and unwavering belief in the transformative power of education.
Today, we must do the same.
This is a love note to all of you who remain committed to this work. We can navigate this moment not with false optimism, but with grounded hope and purposeful action.
Because post-secondary education is worth fighting for.
