Talking About Jobs in Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge

Sheila BlockKitchener-Waterloo/Cambridge

June 14, 2011

2www.wellesleyinstitute.com

Talking About Jobs: Overview

• What has been happening to the labour market in K-W/Cambridge?

• Labour market policies our political leaders should talk about during the election campaign.

• Next steps.


Definitions

• Racialization -- acknowledge "race" as a social construct.• In census data, race is self-reported and includes the

following: Chinese, South Asian, Black, Filipino, Latin American, Southeast Asian, Arab, West Asian, Japanese, Korean.

• Precarious work is characterized by low wages, absence of benefits, part-time hours, irregular shift work, and other flexibility requirements.• Precarious workers more frequently have their statutory

rights violated.


Labour Market Overview Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo CMA

2008 2009 2010

% change % change % change

Labour Force 276,500 3.0

282,200 2.1 286,600 1.6

Employed 259,900 2.5

255,400 -1.7 263,700 3.2

Unemployed 16,500 10.7

26,700 61.8 22,900 -14.2

Unemployment Rate % 6.0 9.5 8.0


Changes In Precarious WorkKitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo

Changes from 2006

2009 2010

Full-time jobs -10,600 2,200

Part-time jobs 11,800 7,300

Employees -1,000 5,100

Permanent Employees -9,600 2,300

Temp Employees 3,200 2,800Self-employed, unincorp; no paid help 0 10


Changes In Employment By Industry (2006-2010) Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo

-10,000

-5,000

-

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

-9,400 -8,900

18,900

-

-1,200

3,200 3,500 4,000 6,500

3,800


Average Employment Income Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo 2005

Men Women -

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

45,000

50,000

38,195 23,694

49,940 29,219

Racialized Non-racialized

Dolla

rs


Unemployment Rates Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo 2006

Men Women Men WomenRacialized Non Racialized

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

7.510.2

4.8 5.5Perc

ent


Talking About Jobs: Overview And Process

• We brought together thoughtful leaders, practitioners and scholars to envision, in a pragmatic and practical way, 21st century labour market policies for Ontario.

• What grew from these discussions were a set of labour market policy proposals aimed at reducing labour market poverty.

• They will contribute to a healthier and more equitable Ontario.

• We are meeting with a number of communities in the next few weeks; have launched our website www.talkingjobs.ca; and are planning an event in Toronto in September.


Talking About Jobs: Workforce Development

Workplace-based learning: Provincial support for workplace-based learning partnerships between employers and workers.

Strategic workforce development: A coordinated approach to workforce development that brings together employers, labour, workers, advocates and government for local labour market planning.

Supports for Internationally Educated Professionals (IEPs): Build on existing programs to ensure IEPs have an opportunity to use their skills, and the Ontario economy more fully benefits from their skills and experience.


Talking About Jobs: Labour Market Regulation

Employment Standards Act: Modernize and better enforced to ensure all workers can access their rights.

Labour Relations Act: Amend and enforce the Act to provide workers with a meaningful right to organize in the 21st century economy.

Migrant Workers: Extend protections to all migrant workers: include prohibitions on passports and identity documents being seized and charging workers for the costs of recruitment.


NEXT STEPS

We are hoping you will continue this conversation in your community.

Engage with us and look for resources at:

www.talkingaboutjobs.ca


www.wellesleyinstitute.com

www.talkingaboutjobs.ca

Talking About Jobs in Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge

Economy & Finance

Transcript of Talking About Jobs in Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge