Thousands of jobs face axe as universities slammed again

A quarter of Australian universities are in the throes of huge cost-cutting measures, with thousands of jobs on the chopping block as their finances reel from falling student demand and anti-migration policies, writes Julie Hare for the Australian Financial Review.

An analysis by the Australian Financial Review reveals that the combined effect of restructuring efforts at nine universities will slice about AU$650 million (US$414 million) from budgets and mean the loss of at least 2,200 jobs. The upheaval comes four years after the sector endured savage cuts during the global pandemic, when 17,300 jobs were axed after the borders closed and overseas student arrivals stopped.

On Wednesday, Western Sydney University became the latest to announce major job cuts to stave off an anticipated AU$79 million deficit in 2026. Vice-chancellor George Williams blamed slowing student demand, increased competition and declining international student numbers for his decision to cut 300 to 400 jobs. But National Tertiary Education Union branch president David Burchell said Williams’ talk of a crisis bore no resemblance to financial reality.
Full report on the Australian Financial Review site