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HRCC Annual Profile

Trends/Issues for Consideration

Technology

Technology has created a "new economy". Computers and semi-conductors; software design and engineering; pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, telecommunications, etc. are all parts of this irreversible trend.

This new economy demands new skill sets, extensive training and retraining, in order to create a multi-skilled workforce.

Information Technology

The age of the Information "Superhighway" is going to change all our lives; how we educate, bank, shop, and entertain ourselves.

Information sharing and partnering will become easier every day, but privacy concerns will become a critical issue in years to come.

Globalization of the World Economy

Trade agreements and information technologies are combining to produce a truly global economy. New trading opportunities are emerging along with increasing competition for Canada's industries.

Labour is now in competition with cheaper overseas labour so Canada must move to high value-added industries and jobs. Will we develop the skills and talent to meet the demand?

Government Debt

Increasing debt means that Governments (at all levels) cannot be counted upon to deliver the services they have in the past.

New, cost efficient ways must be found to offer these services, with increased partnerships and private sector activity. Access to services that we have taken for granted could be reduced (e.g. post-secondary education).

Debt and deficits can also mean increased taxes and growing resistance to program expenditures. Increased taxes are also creating a growing "underground," difficult to measure, economy.

Environmental Concerns

The recession and government downsizing have temporarily pushed environmental issues down the priority list, but they will resurface.

The cost and ways of doing business (meeting regulations) could threaten some jobs, but new ones will emerge in pollution control, waste management, and ecology. These jobs will have a high technical content.

Aging Population

This is one of the most important trends that will have an impact on the future labour market.

As the "baby boom" population ages, lifestyle changes will create a demand for a different mix of services: health care; financial planning, retirement counselling, geriatric nursing; and more leisurely entertainment (e.g. bird watching)

Aging also means that many workers in the traditional skilled trades, will be retiring, creating skill shortages.

This happens at a time when trades occupations have failed to attract the interest of our youth, exacerbating the problem.

Skill Shortages

Despite a high number of unemployed, many jobs are difficult to fill due to the skill content. The Canadian Labour Market and Productivity Centre predicts that the high tech sector will grow by 2.4% a year until 2005, yet as many as 17,660 will go unfilled due to lack of trained employees.

Changing Nature of Work

Work is slipping away from the traditional package we call "jobs". Traditional jobs comprise the primary job market. Accountants, teachers and lab technicians are examples. These people find work with an organization and advance within or with another firm. They have employee benefits, career advancement opportunities and retirement options.

All other jobs are in the secondary job market. They are often service type, minimum wage/low paying, part-time and entry level positions that are not attractive to those seeking full-time, continuous work. People in this market really would prefer to move into the primary market. The workers here are usually people displaced from the primary market or others who must mix their work with education, a home life or another job.

There is a third job market rapidly emerging which is attracting many young entrants seeking work as well as highly experienced workers with a variety of skills to offer. That is the contingent or portfolio market.

This market does not contain jobs, but rather, offers "work" among a variety of organizations and businesses on a contract basis. This work is of a short term nature and can often be undertaken by workers in combination with other similar work for other companies.

The ultimate extension of this trend is self-employment - making your own job. Self-employment is becoming a significant job creation measure.