Future of work
A curated resource of recent research on trends shaping Canada's labour market.
“Gig,” or contingent work, has become a vital part of the Canadian economy with the rise of automation and digital platforms. A gap, however, has been widening between the growth of the gig workforce and policy. To understand the needs of individuals in the contingent workforce, the study organizes workers into the following four categories:
- Free agents: Gig work is the preferred choice and the primary source of income
- Casual earners: Gig work is a personal choice and supplements the income
- Reluctants: Gig work is a necessity and is the primary source of income
- Financially strapped: Gig work supplements other insufficient income
Key findings from the report suggest that “casual earners” make up Canada’s largest gig work constituency, with the second largest being “financially strapped.” Age distribution among study respondents skewed toward younger demographics as those aged 18–34 make up nearly 47% of the gig economy, compared to 36% of the total labour force. An overrepresentation of youth, recent immigrants and racialized workers appears among the cohort of “reluctants.” Enhanced collaboration could provide skills matching and information about work-integrated learning and training opportunities to adequately support those who rely on gig work (out of necessity).