The Changing Nature of Work

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The evolution of artificial intelligence, increasing global corporatization and climate change has resulted in major shifts in labour. There is now massive electronic and personal cross border communication and changes in industry. This transition has led to the deepening of old and the development of new forms of precarious work including:

Precarious work based on a “flexible shared global economy”:

• Declines in both unionization and an increase in attacks on unions

• Increasing contract work replacing permanent jobs

• Part-time jobs replacing full-time jobs

• Growing individualization of work and job insecurity

• Workers and employers replaced by artificial intelligence

• The loss/forced change of jobs due to climate change

Precarious work based on the movement of different workers:

Out of province workers

• Family separation

• Long hours and shift work

• Isolation

• Less likely to report injuries

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Temporary out of country workers: temporary foreign workers, live-in caregivers and seasonal agricultural workers

• Bonded to their employers

• Family separation and challenging reunification

• Growing numbers of undocumented workers

• Growing numbers of brokers, agencies and consultants

• Isolation

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Newcomers: new immigrants and refugees settling as permanent residents

• Difficulty linking their home skills/education to jobs in Alberta

• General increasing xenophobia outside and within communities

 

The continual displacement of indigenous workers and communities

• unemployment

• underemployment

• systemic discrimination

• continuous trauma to communities

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