Dorset Council to cut £12.5m from wage bill by axing 300 jobs

Around 300 jobs will be lost in order to cut £12.5m from its pay bill, Dorset Council has announced.

Vacancies will be held and some position will be lost in order to save money and for the authority to go through a transformation, in hope to be more efficient.

Unison, the main staff union, have warned that job positions will be cut in the next four or five years time.

Many of the jobs to be cut are likely to be lower level jobs.

The council are urged by Unison to re-train instead of sacking staff.

Councillor Andrew Parry, the leader of the conservative minority warned the budget for 2026/2027 will be a challenge for Dorset Council, due to lack of the right preparation in coming 2025/2026 financial year, which could possibly lead to bankruptcy.

Discussion have been happening within the council introducing artificial intelligence equipment in order to deal with customers reducing the costs.

The technology will be automated, giving staff more chance to help customers one to one.