It’s the Best of Times, It’s the Worst of Times

By Denise Feltham

Panic is a common emotion for many working aged individuals as they are bombarded with terms such as stock market crash, economic crisis and recession. Media coverage focuses predominantly on the automobile and real estate industries, citing massive layoffs, plant closures and a decline in housing sales and re-sales. According to Service Canada’s Labour Market Bulletin for the Greater Toronto area, despite a seasonal expansion that generated 71,000 jobs in the second quarter of 2008, the unemployment rate increased to 6.8%. Difficulties in the manufacturing industry as a result of soaring oil prices and a shift in focus from gas guzzling to more fuel efficient, smaller vehicles have caused a decline in the goods producing sector. The fallout of this changing trend is the impending loss of 2,500 jobs when General Motors closes its truck assembly plant in Oshawa in 2009. In the first half of 2008, Toronto experienced a 14% decrease in re-sale of homes, with real estate agents selling 43,685 homes from January to June. A decline in revenue for the newspaper industry because of reduced consumption of hardcopy papers in favour of more website visits resulted in 160 layoffs by Torstar Corporation. The tourism industry experienced a decrease in visitors during April, May and June because of a weakened American economy, a higher Canadian dollar, tightened border security and the inflated price of gasoline.

However, this bleak picture has to be balanced with a look at some positive trends in the labour market. In the second quarter of this year, 3,115,500 were employed, an increase of 92,500 compared to this time last year. There has been a 13.4% growth in part time employment resulting in the creation of 62,800 jobs. Toronto experienced significant growth in the construction industry, resulting in the employment of 22,300 people. Expansion in the service sector, particularly professional, scientific and technical services, resulted in 78,600 new jobs. In the health care and social services sector, five job titles were created including endoscopist, surgical first assistant, physician assistant, clinical specialist radiation therapist, and anaesthesia assistant. The creative industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in the economy, with the provincial government investing $20 million over the next four years in cultural organizations and individual artists. The federal government has even enlisted the help of Phoenix Strategic Perspectives to identify potential uses of alternative forms of Internet communication such as blogs, forums, YouTube and Facebook.

Even in the auto industry a positive, environmentally responsible trend is emerging. The provincial government is providing 6N Silicon, a solar manufacturing plant in Vaughan, with $50 million from the Next Generation of Jobs Fund, which provides assistance to companies attempting to develop clean cars, fuels, technologies and related products. With global warming and consciousness raising about the impact of car emissions on the environment, it would make sense for the government to invest its financial and human resources into products and services that would help reduce our carbon footprint and facilitate sustainable development. From this action comes the potential for creative and innovative growth and development.

One option that is not often explored by client or counsellor is self-employment. While one might consider this route “the road less travelled”, self-employment provides autonomy while fuelling the economy. Ironically, many entrepreneurs thrive during economically difficult times because they meet consumer needs in unique ways (for example, the 15 below all weather coat for homeless people in Calgary). One quarter of businesses are product based, while the other three quarters are service based. Companies with a staff of less than 100 employees represent 97% of product based businesses and 98% of service based businesses. According to Industry Canada’s Small Business Quarterly, 2,622, 500 people were self employed in the second quarter of 2008.

There are a number of programs available to help people with barriers to employment become self employed. The Self Employment Benefits Program sponsored by the Government of Canada is available for people who are on Employment Insurance or received it within the last 36 months. It includes a 10 week, in-class training course on the fundamentals of running a business including how to create a business plan; ongoing support from a business advisor; and financial support for up to one year during the start-up phase of the business.

Self employment programs have expanded to serve youth, women, Aboriginals and people with disabilities. Delivery agents of these programs include The Toronto Business Development Centre; YMCA Business Centre (Youth Entrepreneurship Program); Seneca (Faculty of Workforce Skills Development Program); Job Skills (Opportunities Fund Self Employment Benefits Program); Community Micro Skills Development Centre (Self Employment Training for Women – SET); Youth Employment Service (Bizstart Entrepreneurship for Youth); Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training Centre; and JVS (AbilityWorks).

Once upon a time there was the hunting and gathering society, which evolved into an agrarian society. This was followed by the industrial revolution, which resulted in a loss of control over the means of production and a dependency on employers for wages to survive. The industrial age gave way to post-modernism. We are now on the cusp of a transition to another era in society that will tax our resources and require new coping skills. However, with a positive attitude and good problem solving abilities, these can be the best of times as well as the worst of times.

Denise Feltham is founder of D.I.C.E. Assessment & Employment Counselling Services. Denise is a person with an invisible disabillity who attained her Bachelor of Social Work degree with Honours from Ryerson University and is registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. She then obtained her Career and Work Counsellor diploma, with Honours, from George Brown College. Denise worked as a vocational assessment and employment counsellor with the YWCA Youth Are program for approximately three years, where she gained certification as a Life Skills Coach. Denise has also achieved publication of her article, “is a Driver’s License the New Barrier to Employment” in Contact Point’s Bulletin. E-mail dmfeltham@sympatico.ca. Sitewww.diceassessment.com.