Institute chief executive Malcolm White briefed staff in Hobart yesterday and will meet with those in Launceston, Burnie and Devonport today.

The jobs cuts are greater than the 40 positions the Australian Education Union last week tipped could go as the institute deals with a budget deficit of up to $3 million.

Australian Education Union Tasmania branch TAFE division president Rex Calvert said because the number related to full-time equivalent positions, a higher number of people could actually lose their jobs.

Mr White said the cuts would come from a mix of voluntary redundancies, staff redeployments to other agencies and eventually forced redundancies.

``The steps we are taking not only address the budget deficit, they will shore up the organisation that it will thrive and be better placed for its purpose,'' Mr White said.

He said the focus of the institute would be that its training delivery better aligned with the economic and industry goals of the state.

It is understood that up to 10 staff across the state are expected to be cut from the management team and curriculum areas of automotive-motorbody, natural resources and business.

Up to five people will go in workplace learning and development, metals, cookery, electrotechnology, tourism-hospitality, bakery-butchery and support staff.

Mr Calvert said the union was disappointed the government negotiated a redundancy loan for the institute, which it believes to be about $5 million, when a review is under way and the findings due in April.

``There are quite a number of people who are upset and shocked by this,'' Mr Calvert said.

``There are many aged 35, 40 and above; they've got families, mortgages, houses and now they may have lost their job.''

Mr Calvert said the union will meet Education Minister Nick McKim on the matter next week.