Quebec’s SAAQ to eliminate 100 positions amidst hiring freeze

Quebec’s Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) is trimming its workforce by roughly one hundred positions, following a hiring freeze imposed by the provincial Conseil du trésor (Treasury Board). 

To reach that number, the SAAQ plans to let some fixed-term contracts expire without renewal, end certain temporary roles before their contracted end dates, and not replace some departing employees.  The agency says it must optimize resource use while maintaining client services and operational capacity. 

With more than 4,800 jobs in total, the measure is not negligible, especially for those relying on non-permanent employment. 

What this means for unemployment

Even though 100 positions out of 4,800 might sound modest in percentage terms, the structure of which jobs are cut matters a lot. Because the SAAQ is targeting occasional or temporary roles, the impact falls disproportionately on workers who are already in more precarious employment.

Many of these affected workers are likely younger, newer to the public service, or in transitional roles. Temporary employees are often more vulnerable in a hiring freeze: fixed-term contracts may not be renewed, and roles may be ended prematurely. For someone in such a role, these cuts can mean sudden joblessness without the protection or notice that might accompany permanent roles.

Moreover, these layoffs may ripple beyond just the SAAQ. When government agencies reduce or freeze hiring, fewer jobs circulate in the labor market. Workers displaced from public agencies sometimes turn to private-sector or third-party opportunities, increasing competition there. If many such cuts occur across multiple public bodies, there could be a modest uptick in unemployment or underemployment, especially among entry-level or less-senior workers.

The cuts may also exacerbate inequalities. Youth, newcomers, or those with less market experience may have fewer fallback options. With fewer temporary roles, there is less “stepping stone” opportunity for someone trying to get into the civil service. Some might be pushed into lower wage sectors, gig work, or jobs outside their training.

On the flip side, not all is doom: some workers might already be seeking permanent or more stable positions, and a cut now might accelerate their search. But in sum, the immediate effect is likely to increase pressure on the job market, especially near the margins.