Mohawk College is continuing to adjust its workforce as it responds to ongoing financial pressures facing Canada’s post-secondary sector. One year after cutting hundreds of jobs, the Hamilton-based college has introduced a voluntary exit option for select full-time employees. Applications opened last week and will remain available until the end of January, according to spokesperson Sean Coffey.

The buyout program applies to full-time administrative, faculty, and support staff. The college has not yet determined whether positions vacated through the program will be refilled or permanently eliminated, nor has it set a target number of exits. Coffey said the initiative is part of early budget planning for the upcoming fiscal year, with final decisions expected later in the new year.

This move follows significant layoffs between December and February, when Mohawk eliminated 255 full-time positions—about 20 per cent of its workforce—and cut more than a dozen programs. College leadership previously cited a sharp decline in international student enrolment as a key factor behind a projected $50 million deficit. Similar trends are affecting colleges across Canada, reflecting a softer job market and tighter institutional budgets.

Have you been laid off by Mohawk College in Canada? Contact our employment lawyers today. Our legal team offers a free consultation and works on a contingency basis—there are no fees unless you win your case.

Aura Carreño Rosas’ original article, “Mohawk College offering buyouts to full-time admin, faculty and support employees following massive layoffs” was published in CBC News on December 9, 2025. Read the Full CBC News story.

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