Prime Minister Carney’s public service cuts are disproportionately impacting women workers in the federal public service. 

PSAC’s latest data shows that women account for 71% of PSAC members affected by workforce adjustment but only represent 57% of federal public service workers. 

Gender information was available for 77% of the over 14,000 PSAC members who have received affected letters since January 2025. Among members who disclosed their gender, 71% of those who received workforce adjustment notices were women. 

These latest numbers are worse than what organizations like the CCPA previously predicted. 

Data shows the government’s inconsistency on gender equality 

Prime Minister Carney says his government is committed to gender equality, but these findings don’t back up his claims. 

Under PM Carney’s government, the departments with a majority of women workers are facing the largest amounts of workforce adjustment notices. Some of the hardest hit departments with large percentages of women workers are Employment and Social Development Canada (67% women); Health Canada (65% women); Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (64% women); and Global Affairs Canada (57% women). 

Women in these departments provide critical direct support to people in Canada. They process employment insurance, disability benefits, maternity and parental leave, passport renewals, and immigration applications. These are the workers keeping our communities safe, healthy, and supported. Cutting these jobs will slow service delivery, leaving people across the country waiting longer for the support they need. 

You can’t say you’re “Building Canada Strong” while disproportionately slashing the jobs of women and gutting the services that communities depend on.  

PSAC is demanding action 

These numbers are just a snapshot of the impacts public service cuts will have on workers and their families. The government continues to withhold basic equity data showing who is most affected by workforce adjustment notices. Further research is required to understand how other equity groups or communities could be impacted by these cuts. 

PSAC is calling on the federal government to release disaggregated equity data so people in Canada can understand the full impact of these cuts on women, Indigenous and racialized workers, members with disabilities, members part of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and other equity groups. We are also demanding that the government halt workforce adjustment notices and engage in meaningful consultation with unions before making decisions that disproportionately harm workers. 

If Prime Minister Carney and his government truly care about gender equality, then they need to protect the jobs of women in the public service and invest in the important services they provide for people in Canada.