1. Investigating Precarious Employment in Rural Ontario
Thank you
You might remember me from last year – that was year 1 … this is year 2…
Valencia Gaspard, PhD Student
University of Guelph

2. A reminder - what is it? Unpredictable work schedules
High turnover (quicker termination)
Impermanent jobs
Low employee engagement
Low-paying
Low worker advocacy (no Union or collective voice)
No or little benefits
Neoliberal employment trend
No training/opportunities
Remember the principles of precarious employment …

3. The Team Dr. Al Lauzon Carol Kenny Dr. Heather Mair Dr. Miana Plesca
Dr. Ray Bollman
Dr. Ryan Gibson
The Advisory Group

4. The Plan Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Contextual Analysis Case Studies
Review employment trends
Consider different census divisions
Contextual Analysis
What is the precarious work experience in rural communities?
Key informant interviews
Case Studies
Capture experiences
Discuss success strategies
Report
Year 1 Year 2 Year Year 4
We’re wrapping up phase 1
--working with a team of researchers:
-Dr. Al Lauzon
-Dr. Heather Mair
-Dr. Ryan Gibson
-Dr. Ray Bollman
-Dr. Miana Plesca
-Carol Kenny
- and are into phase 2, we hit the ground running with Key Informant Interviews
Now we have engaged our Advisory Group – so we have some trends identified based on the Stats Can data and we’d like to know if this holds true ‘on the ground’ in communities – we’re moving into KIIs
What have we learned in phase 1?

5. What have we learned?
Difference in trends between metro, partially-non-metro, and non-metro parts of Ontario

6. It’s happening.

7. Approximately Ontarians work on term or contract – you can see the increasing during the 2008 financial crisis

13. Self-Employment

15. Out of the folks who work for themselves, most are unincorporated and have no paid help --- this is the demographic of self-employed Ontarians who would be considered precariously self employed

16. Self-Employment Number self-employed people in Ontario is increasing
Percent self-employed was highest in late 1990s, then declined somewhat to mid s, increased somewhat during recession and has not increased since then
When things get tough, people work for themselves
* Increasing numbers in
o Self-employed, incorporated, with paid help
o Self-employed, incorporated, without paid help
o Self-employed, unincorporated, with no paid help
o But
o Declining numbers in self-employed, unincorporated, with paid help

17. Hearing the stories.