Temporary
and Part Time Employment is here to stay! Northumberland
News/Business Advantage, December 14, 2004
In today’s marketplace there is no such thing as
a sure thing when it comes to a job. Once upon a time
you had a job for life and in many cases your children
followed in your footsteps. I can recall being told to
make a decision for the rest of my life in High School
when it came to my career and my educational choices right
then would be key to my achieving my career aspirations.
A lot has changed but one thing that has not is that we
still need to have a job, albeit a few more than once
were envisioned!
Three years ago, my daughter invited me to join her for
her orientation at the University of Windsor at which
our host reminded Sarah that she should plan for 4 to
5 careers and that this aspect of her education would
serve as an excellent foundation and that her career experience
would serve and lead her to her next right step.
Today that same advice applies to all of us young or old,
just entering the workforce or well along the career path.
Today we have downsizing, resizing, outsourcing and a
few other euphemisms for change, which have caught many
of us off guard and in some cases we were suddenly and
uncomfortably a byproduct of one of these "ings."
In many cases our job searches became very different and
that career for life idea went out the window.
The great news is that many of us found different more
fulfilling and more flexible job options that not only
changed the way we worked but the way we lived and played.
Of course it did necessitate some lifestyle changes but
those of us who have adapted to the part-time and temporary
employment culture for the most part have enjoyed its
diversity and unique challenges and rewards.
When we look at the employment statistics we can see the
change in the workforce fabric. Through the 1990’s,
full time paid employment in Canada grew by only 18% as
compared to a 58% increase in part time and temporary
employment. We could conclude that these changes were
and are driven by the employers as they seek greater workforce
flexibility and specialized skills for specific contracts.
However we could also consider that the face of the workforce
is changing, aging and considerably more diverse which
has precipitated different personal, family and spiritual
needs.
The temporary and part time employee is not an anomaly
in our marketplaces; they are a necessary and culturally
relevant workforce that will help drive the economic engine
of Canada, Ontario, and right here in Peterborough. It
would serve us well as both employees and employers to
consider how we may need to make some adjustments to our
expectations and hiring practices respectively to ensure
we fill the gap!
