GM Oshawa shift cuts are hitting hundreds of workers. Learn how to update your assembly worker resume, highlight your skills, and plan your next move.
The GM Oshawa layoffs affect workers with real, proven skills that other employers value. Assembly line experience, safety discipline, and shift reliability transfer directly to other manufacturing, logistics, and warehouse roles across Ontario.
The GM Oshawa layoffs that workers have been dreading for months finally arrived on January 30, 2026. According to CBC News, GM Canada cut one of three shifts at its Oshawa Assembly plant, affecting approximately 500 direct GM employees and up to 1,200 workers across the supply chain.
For workers walking out of their final shift into the cold morning air, the immediate question is not about tariffs or trade negotiations. It is about what comes next: bills to pay, families to support, and an uncertain job market to navigate.
This guide is for those workers. It covers what to do in the first week after hearing about layoffs, how to turn your GM Oshawa experience into a strong manufacturing worker resume, and what options exist for staying in auto, switching industries, or retraining.
GM has cut one of three shifts at the Oshawa plant, reducing the facility to a two-shift operation beginning February 2, 2026. The third shift workers finished what may be their final shift on Friday morning, January 30.
According to Unifor Local 222 President Jeff Gray, seniority rules apply: high-seniority members are being bumped to the remaining shifts, while lower-seniority members across all three shifts are losing their jobs. This means the GM Oshawa shift cuts are not hitting only midnight shift workers but affecting people across the entire plant based on their tenure.
Even workers who are not laid off immediately may face reduced hours, uncertainty about future shifts, or anxiety about further cuts. The GM Oshawa plant jobs that remain are building the next generation of Chevrolet Silverado pickups, but the facility's long-term trajectory remains unclear.
These auto plant layoffs in Ontario follow a pattern workers know too well. Similar cuts have hit the CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll and the Stellantis Assembly Plant in Brampton. For many workers, this is not their first experience with production adjustments, shift reductions, or contract changes across the sector.
The feeling walking out of a final shift is hard to describe to anyone who has not been there. You have done your job well, met your targets, worked safely, and contributed to a product you are proud of. And now it is over, not because of anything you did, but because of decisions made far from the shop floor.
The first week after learning about layoffs can feel chaotic. Taking a few specific steps now will help you stay organized and keep your options open.
1. Confirm your employment status and timelines.
Get clarity from your union representative or HR about your last working day, whether you have recall rights, and what benefits you are entitled to. For GM Oshawa workers covered by the Unifor collective agreement, hourly seniority employees are eligible for Supplemental Unemployment Benefits (SUB) that, combined with Employment Insurance, equal 70% of regular weekly earnings. Depending on tenure, these benefits can last from nine months to approximately two years. Confirm what applies to your specific situation.
2. Gather your documents.
Before you lose access to internal systems, collect copies of any training certificates, performance reviews, apprenticeship records, safety tickets, and equipment qualifications. These documents will be valuable when building your resume or applying for other manufacturing roles.
3. Write down what you actually do on the line.
Take 30 minutes to list your daily tasks, the machines and tools you operate, the safety procedures you follow, and any leadership or training responsibilities you have taken on. This information will feed directly into your resume later. Be specific: instead of "worked on the line," note things like "operated torque tools on body assembly" or "performed quality checks on X components per shift."
4. Reach out to your network.
This is not the time for formal job applications, but it is a good time for quiet conversations. Talk to supervisors, coworkers, and friends in other plants or industries about what they are hearing. Ask if they know of openings or can make introductions. Many manufacturing jobs are filled through referrals before they are ever posted publicly.
5. Give yourself a short breather.
It is normal to feel shock, anger, or anxiety after hearing about layoffs. Take a few days to process those feelings before diving into job boards and applications. Learning how to find a job after layoffs is a process, and starting from a calmer place will help you make better decisions.
Apply for Employment Insurance right away, even if you have severance or SUB benefits. There are allocation rules that affect timing, and filing early protects your claim. Service Canada can help clarify how your specific situation works.
Workers at GM Oshawa have valuable, transferable skills that fit other auto plants, parts manufacturers, logistics operations, and other industries. The challenge is translating shop floor experience into resume language that employers outside your plant will understand.
Here is a simple resume structure tailored to a manufacturing worker resume:
Include your city and region (Oshawa, Durham Region, or GTA). Employers want to know you are local and can commute reliably to their facility.
Write 3-4 sentences summarizing your experience, environment, and what you bring to a new role. Focus on years on the line, the type of production environment, and your safety and reliability record.
Example profile:
Assembly line worker with 8 years on high-volume automotive production at GM Oshawa, experienced in standardized work, quality checks, and safety procedures. Strong record of attendance, teamwork, and hitting production targets on rotating shifts including nights and weekends. Looking for full-time manufacturing roles in the GTA where I can bring my line experience and attention to detail.
Group your skills into categories that employers can scan quickly:
Technical skills:
Safety skills:
Soft skills:
List GM Oshawa and any previous manufacturing roles. Use bullet points that show what you accomplished, not just what your job title was. (See the next section for specific bullet examples.)
Include your high school diploma, any trade school or college courses, and certifications such as forklift operator, WHMIS, working at heights, or first aid. If you completed GM-specific training programs, list those as well.
For more guidance on resume formatting, see Yotru's guide on making your resume ATS-friendly.
Strong resume bullets show employers what you accomplished, using concrete details and numbers where possible. Here are examples you can adapt based on your specific experience:
Production and assembly:
Quality and safety:
Training and teamwork:
Reliability and flexibility:
Keep your bullets concrete and avoid jargon that only makes sense inside one plant. An employer at a parts manufacturer or warehouse should be able to read your resume and immediately understand what you can do.
If you are not sure how to describe your assembly line worker resume experience in words, start by answering a few simple questions about your daily tasks. Yotru's resume builder can turn your answers into strong resume bullets.
The GM Oshawa layoffs do not mean the end of your career. You have real skills that transfer to multiple paths. Here are three directions to consider:
Other auto plants, parts manufacturers, and advanced manufacturing firms in Ontario may value your GM experience. Companies that make components, run stamping operations, or handle logistics for the automotive sector understand what it means to have worked at a tier-one assembly plant. Keep an eye on job boards and industry contacts for openings at:
Your skills translate directly to roles like:
These roles may be in different industries, but the core skills, including reliability, safety awareness, and working in a fast-paced environment, are the same.
If repeated auto plant layoffs in Ontario have made you think about a longer-term change, community colleges and trades programs offer paths to in-demand careers:
Programs through Durham College, Centennial College, and other institutions may have financial support available for displaced workers. Check with your union or Service Canada about retraining options for auto workers.
The same manufacturing worker resume can be slightly adjusted for each path. Focus on the skills that are most relevant to each role you apply for.
Seeing a shift end at GM Oshawa is emotionally and financially tough. Hundreds of families are navigating the same uncertainty right now. But the skills you developed on the line, including reliability, safety awareness, teamwork, and the ability to meet production targets, are real and valuable. Those skills do not disappear when a shift does.
You have options. Whether you stay in manufacturing, move to a related role, or explore retraining, the first step is getting your experience on paper in a way that employers can understand.
If you are not sure how to describe your line work in words, start by answering a few simple questions. Build your resume now with Yotru's tools, or explore resume templates designed for manufacturing and trades workers.
Our AI-powered scoring system helps organizations assess and standardize resume quality at scale. ATS-compliant templates support consistent formatting, keyword alignment, and interview readiness across cohorts.
Team Yotru
Employability Systems & Applied Research
Team Yotru
Employability Systems & Applied Research
We build career tools informed by years working in workforce development, employability programs, and education technology. We work with training providers and workforce organizations to create practical tools for employment and retraining programs—combining labor market insights with real-world application to support effective career development. Follow us on LinkedIn.
No. Update your resume now, even if you have recall rights. Having a current resume gives you options, and being prepared does not commit you to anything. If a recall comes, you can decide then. If it does not, you will be ready to apply for other roles without delay. Figuring out how to find a job after layoffs is easier when you start early.
This article is written for auto workers and manufacturing employees in the Oshawa and Greater Toronto Area who are affected by or anxious about the GM Oshawa shift cuts. It provides practical resume guidance and next-step strategies for workers facing job loss in the auto sector.
Yotru content prioritizes accuracy, neutrality, and evidence-based guidance. This article does not take political positions on trade policy or corporate decisions. It focuses on practical support for affected workers.
Information is drawn from news coverage of the GM Oshawa layoffs (CBC News, CP24, Canadian Manufacturing), Unifor resources on Employment Insurance and Supplemental Unemployment Benefits, and Yotru's applied research on manufacturing worker career transitions.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute career, legal, or financial advice. Workers should verify their specific entitlements with their union representative, HR department, or Service Canada. Individual circumstances vary based on tenure, collective agreement provisions, and other factors.
Resume Building for Trades and Manufacturing
Job Search and Career Transition
Ontario and Canadian Labor Market
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