Canadian Women: Contingent Workers

Despite many gains made in the past four decades, women’s employment remains concentrated in contingent work: low-paying, part-time, entry-level and temporary jobs, or self-employment.

This has immediate and long-term effects on individual women, their families, and society. Contingent workers have limited access to Employment Insurance, so it is difficult for them to qualify for benefits, training, and paid leaves. They are also much less likely to have a workplace pension or the ability to save for retirement.
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How Can Labour Market Agreements Work for Women?

Ontario is the last province to implement an LMDA, which means that we can learn from the experiences of other provinces. And research finds that other provincial LMDAs have not served contingent workers well, especially women. Why?

In large part because the LMDAs are tied to the EI Act. Tightened EI eligibility criteria, combined with restrictive accountability frameworks have worked against multi-barriered clients. Just as importantly, historically LMDAs have not acknowledged equity issues. >>more

Women in Successful Employment (W.I.S.E.)

This program at JVS Toronto helps women re-enter the workforce or make career changes. To date, 55% of graduates have found work, 14% are in training, and 70% report they are “very satisfied” with the experience. Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) funding is approved until March 2008, but it is uncertain what will happen to WISE after this date. >>more

Ontario's Potential

At the Developing Skills through Partnerships Symposium, Honorable Chris Bentley, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, stated: "Ontario will never reach its potential until everyone in Ontario reaches their potential." >>more

MTCU Hiring Announcements

The Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities (MTCU) has hired four Regional Directors in the Labour Market and Training Division. >>more

LMDA Update & Women's Summit

This two-day event at the Employment and Education Centre in Brockville was a great success. >>more

ACTEW's Members' Meeting

Pam Lahey discussed her research on creaming and the Targeted Wage Subsidy. >>more

The Facts

• Part-time female workers make up almost one third of the Canadian labour force. (1)

• Half of all part-time permanent workers earn $10/hour or less. Half of all part-time temporary workers earn $8.50/hour or less. (1)

• One in seven Canadian women live in poverty. Forty percent of unattached women over 65 live in poverty. Fifty percent of female lone-parent families live in poverty. (2)

• Almost two-thirds of women under 65 do not have workplace pension plans. Of people collecting public pensions, 65% are women. (3)

(1) Women & Contingent Work, ACTEW, 2006

(2) Persons in low income before tax, by prevalence in percent (2000 to 2004), Statistics Canada, 2006

(3) Pensions in Canada: Policy Reform Because Women Matter, WE*ACT, 2005

The QUESTIONS

• How can we improve women’s economic self-sufficiency?

• What opportunities does Ontario have to improve the programs being transferred through the LMDA?

• What will happen to women-specific employment and training programs, once Ontario’s LMDA is implemented?

GET INVOLVED

Pre-LMDA Survey

ACTEW is surveying Ontario agencies on employment and training services, particularly services for women, prior to implementation of the LMDA, with a follow-up survey planned for 2008. >>more

Meetings in the Works

Planning in process for discussions about the LMDA in Hamilton, Grand Erie, and Thunder Bay. Updates will be posted to ACTEW's Putting Women in the Picture web site.

Host an LMDA meeting

Explore the employment and training needs of women in your community, spotlight programs, and share info. >>more

Visit our web site to learn more about Putting Women in the Picture