The Pearson Centre for Progressive Policy

Progressive Dialogue and Policy for a Better Canada

Canadians Weigh in on the Future of Work

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August 29, 2019

Canadians Weigh in on the Future of Work

By Terrance Hunsley

Canadians Weigh in on the Future of Work

by Terrance Hunsley

Since spring, when the Pearson Centre published a discussion paper ( http://www.thepearsoncentre.ca/platform/the-future-of-work-is-happening-now-what-can-we-do-about-it-2/) on the future of work, people have been contacting us to share their insights and suggestions.

A broad subject, central to economies and lives, concerns about work are varied and lead us into many paths of enquiry. Our summer researcher, Kyra Mullen, is tracking the responses and keeping a spreadsheet with the contacts and subjects raised. We will ensure that every contribution is considered in our report.

Perhaps a bit surprising, most people seem to present their issues in a context which overall is quite optimistic, noting the potential for new and exciting opportunities. The disruption of old entrenched economic structures, the rapid social diversification and global population movement, combined with new enabling technology, have opened our thoughts to new ways of doing things. People are seeing opportunities for those with the right skills, the right attitude, and perhaps, the right luck.

And since we are experiencing right now the changes that will shape work in the future, we can see that so far, recent developments have been good for the economy and overall, for workers. New and good jobs are being created, at a rate faster than others are being eliminated. Wages are moving up across the spectrum. Unemployment is low. And in Canada, public sector debt as a percentage of GDP is relatively low. This despite, at least so far, fears about the costs of an ageing society.

But massive change has victims.  Many workers or potential workers who are displaced by the disruption, and many who have been in the margins,  see no opportunity. Some families are relying on multiple precarious jobs. Housing costs are jumping beyond what they can afford. For many, the gap between their skills and what is needed to succeed in a digital economy, large and discouraging.

Our contributors are pointing out that income and training supports need radical improvement. Access to help needs to be fast, easy, and when needed, personalized. Income support, educational support, health and social support, all need to be brought out of the industrial era and retooled for the challenges of new forms of work and new skill demands.

Fortunately this is a good time for governments to introduce new and improved support systems. With the economy at full throttle, phasing in the kind of supports that ensure that victims of the economic disruption don’t get left behind, are relatively inexpensive. And once in place, they will not only mitigate future costs, but create more workers, jobs and revenue.

Some of the issues and suggestions advanced by our collaborators include:

  • A universal public disability insurance program
  • New approaches to gender issues and inequality in the work force
  • Universal basic income guarantee to eradicate poverty, increase consumption, encourage participation in the formal vs informal economy, and strengthen social cohesion
  • Living wage policies
  • Worker representation generally, and on corporate boards
  • Encouragement for employee ownership of businesses
  • Assistance for rural, indigenous, immigrant and other marginalized groups
  • Broadening the spectrum for education, including entrepreneurship, STEM education, but also social sciences, humanities, leadership and emotional intelligence
  • Responding to the fragmentation of work organizations, including the “projectification” of work management, multiple layers of separation between service workers and the product sponsor, and the proliferation of self employment.
  • The impact of changes on work in social, health and nonprofit sectors.

We welcome all of the feedback we have had, and look forward to hearing from more of you.

Please send us more of your insights, concerns, and proposals. We want to put together a catalogue of good ideas.

Contact :

Terrance Hunsley, Senior Fellow, The Pearson Centre

thunsley@thepearsoncentre.ca