I wrote this after I wrote part one which is HERE. Living Wage and Livable Income are not synonymous. The latter includes the former and ensures we are considering those who do not earn wages and rely on pensions and/or government income security programs. A livable economy is one that benefits society as a whole,Continue reading “Livable Income IN a Livable Economy (Part Two: the Impacts of AI)”
Category Archives: Labour Force
Living Wage IN a Livable Economy
In Edmonton, approximately 140,000 workers are identified as low income earners (earning below $16.31 per hour), according to the Edmonton Social Planning Council (source, page 79). Four in five of these workers are over the age of 20 and 60% are women. The Canadian Payroll Association’s annual survey of Canadian workers identifies that in anyContinue reading “Living Wage IN a Livable Economy”
Ending Precarious Employment – A Game-Changer Strategy
Precarious Employment is the jargon people like me use to describe the employment conditions and experiences of a growing number of workers in our country. Here is what that jargon means: Precarious employment is in effect sub-standard employment that offers low wages that typically are not enough to live on, and that does not offerContinue reading “Ending Precarious Employment – A Game-Changer Strategy”
Precarious Work
When an employer won’t allow a worker more than 25 hours a week but requires that worker to be available for work 7 days a week, people become little more than commodities on the open market of Precarious Employment. Lately I have made an effort to talk with folks that work at places like Shopper’sContinue reading “Precarious Work”
Mandatory Winter Tires and Poverty
Yes, perhaps an odd title for a posting, but bear with me. I was on my way back home from meeting downtown with Alberta Government colleagues who also work in the poverty reduction arena and I heard this call-in show about winter tires and more to the point about whether or not winter tires shouldContinue reading “Mandatory Winter Tires and Poverty”
Signals of Coming Disruption
Big change doesn’t just click on. It occurs over time, starting out often as weak signals of the change to come. Sometimes it’s like the old frog in the boiling water story. Put the frog in when the water is cool and turn up the flame and eventually the frog realizes its plight, just too lateContinue reading “Signals of Coming Disruption”
Higher Minimum Wage: More Gain than Pain?
The debate about having a living wage has many voices. A colleague recently shared a public letter that a chef wrote to the Premier, expressing how a minimum wage of $15.00 per hour would jeopardize his plans to open a restaurant. He makes many excellent points and does so in clear and respectful language. MyContinue reading “Higher Minimum Wage: More Gain than Pain?”
Guaranteed Minimum Annual Income in Alberta?
The Mayors of Edmonton and Calgary are talking about it (read). Many agree with them and I am one; it’s worth a good look. In fact, I suggest that a guaranteed annual income be considered as a foundational strategy to lift hundreds of thousands of people out of poverty. Whether or not it will workContinue reading “Guaranteed Minimum Annual Income in Alberta?”
Employment/Unemployment
We all feel better, more confident, when the unemployment rate in Canada is low and getting lower. More people working, more money being spent on consumer goods, less dependence on government programs – it all makes sense. In addition to tracking the unemployment rate, we also track the participation rate, which is basically how manyContinue reading “Employment/Unemployment”
