More than 17,000 people have lost their jobs at Australian universities in 2020, according to figures by Universities Australia.

Australian universities shed at least 17,300 jobs in 2020 and lost an estimated AUD 1.8 billion (USD 1.3 billion) in revenue compared to 2019.

Universities Australia Chief Executive Catriona Jackson said universities’ operating revenue fell 4.9% in 2020 against 2019 figures. The sector is estimated to lose a further 5.5%, or $2 billion, in 2021.

“When compared with universities’ pre-pandemic budgeted revenue for 2020, this loss is more than AUD 3 billion (USD 2.3 billion), which is in line with the sector’s estimates made in April last year,” Jackson said. “The brutal reality of Covid-19 has made 2021 even more challenging.”

According to The Guardian, the 17,300  job losses equate to 13% of Australia’s pre-Covid university workforce. This included permanent staff as well as casuals who did not have their contracts renewed. It’s an increase on the 12,500 job losses reported by the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) in October 2020.

“We always said universities would face a multi-year hit to their revenues,” Jackson said. “If an international student didn’t enrol in 2020, the loss would be felt for what would have been their entire three or four years at university.”

“Continuing border closures mean universities face the double whammy of fewer returning students in 2020, and reduced numbers in 2021. The cumulative impact won’t be felt just in 2020 and 2021, but for years to come. No sector can absorb revenue declines this large without staff losses,” Jackson continued.

Public universities and their staff were not able to access Jobkeeper during 2020 or 2021. The reason cited for Australia's public universities not qualifying for Jobkeeper was that the sector's falls in revenue were not steep enough.

“Universities welcomed the injection of AUD 1 billion (USD 760.8 million) for research announced by the government in October last year,” Jackson said. “It was an important acknowledgement that the jobs of the future are created by R&D, and that universities are central to national recovery.”

Jackson added, “Universities Australia will continue to advocate for the needs of the sector at this time of crisis and will continue to talk with government about funding sustainability.”