Friday, December 2, 2011

Replacing manufacturing jobs with call centres - unemployment up again

The numbers alone mask a deeper problem. Not only are jobs disappearing -- the jobs that remain are low paying and often part-time. Canada's manufacturing sector is especially hit; and replacing manufacturing jobs with call centres is not a good societal exchange:

http://bit.ly/rLwM5O

Canada's labour market has hit a wall, with job declines in three of the past four months suggesting turmoil outside the country's borders is denting the confidence of employers.

The country shed 18,600 jobs last month after a tumble of 54,000 in October, marking the first back-to-back monthly drop since the recession. The jobless rate hit a five-month high of 7.4 per cent, Statistics Canada said Friday.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't understand the apparent lack of concern of political leadership at all levels of this growing and very serious problem. It seems to have become the norm in the last 20 years to accept manufacturing plant closures as "business decisions" not even batting an eye. No job creation strategy will work until we roll up our sleeves and problem solve the most serious employment issue.

BC Waterboy

Anonymous said...

According to the article, it is an East/West problem.

Of course energy sector is a boom for the West but in Ontario the stunning increase in hydro rates (not just for homeowners but manufacturers as well) and new gas taxes have been a disaster.

That being said, the world meltdown has obviously hurt manufacturing in Ontario.

People complaining about the lack of $30/hr jobs in Barrie is a bit much to take. They are in fantasyland and probably deserve to be out of work.