A precarious future is not inevitable

Two years ago, a groundbreaking study revealed that more than half of all workers in Hamilton and Toronto – two of Canada's most populous cities – are precariously employed, meaning they work in temporary, contract, or part-time jobs that are poorly paid, insecure, and cannot support a household.

The same study, entitled The Precarity Penalty, also discovered that precarious employment has grown by almost 50 per cent over the last 20 years, which has left many workers without the job security, benefits, and vacation pay that often come with full-time employment.

For students attending college and university, the ideal outcome after graduation would be to land a full-time and secure job, preferably with a pension and benefits. However, this type of employment is becoming increasingly out of reach for graduates entering today's job market, as evidenced by the fact that – month after month – the Canadian economy adds part-time jobs while shedding full-time ones.

As a result, precarious work is now one of the most pressing challenges facing our generation. It devastates individuals, families, and communities, and affects women, immigrants, and racialized groups in particular. 

While some people view precarious employment as a permanent feature of Canada's "new" economy, we reject the notion that Canadian workers must accept precarity as an inevitability.  

If we want to avoid a future dominated by precarious employment, action needs to be taken to foster decent work for everyone.

Employers need to create more stable work environments that encourage work-life balance while ensuring that employees are treated fairly and compensated appropriately.

Governments must improve labour laws and regulations to ensure that employers cannot exploit workers through weak legislation and precarious hiring practices, job roles, and work environments.

By standing up and urging governments and employers to protect the interests of all workers, we can reverse the troubling rise in precarious work and harness changes in our economy that actually meet the needs of Canadians.