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Employment and Working Conditions

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Employment is a social determinant of health. A person who is paid and has a job or a business is considered employed.^[1]

Working Conditions include work hours, breaks, work scheduling and compensation. The physical conditions and mental demands of a person's employment are also considered working conditions.^[2]

Why is this important?

Earning a fair wage and good working conditions are important. People with low-wage jobs, including those who work full-time and those who are precariously employed (this could be part-time or temporary work, or self-employment) may not make enough money to afford their daily needs. When a person has a job or business, they receive income that they can spend on daily living expenses. Being employed also contributes to a sense of identity and provides a daily routine. Extreme working conditions are connected to increased stress. Working long hours is connected to sleep deprivation, high blood pressure and heart disease.^[3]

Indicators

Employment

Measure: Labour Force Participation Rate

The labour force participation rate is calculated by dividing the labour force by the total population of people 15 years and older. The labour force includes people who are employed and people who are unemployed.^[4]

The labour force participation rate is available monthly for the Guelph Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) and annually for the Kitchener-Waterloo-Barrie (KWB) Economic Region which includes Guelph and Wellington County. The KWB Rural Economic Region excludes the Guelph, Barrie, and Kitchener/Cambridge/Waterloo CMAs.

Key Findings

From 2011 to 2021, the labour force participation rate in the Guelph CMA was generally higher than the provincial rate. From December 2019 to November 2021, the labour force participation rate ranged from 64.6% of the population of the Guelph CMA to 71.6%. Over the same timeframe, the labour force participation rate for Ontario ranged from 60.8% to 65.5%.

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*The Guelph CMA includes the City of Guelph, Puslinch and Guelph/Eramosa Township.

Source: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0380-01 Labour force characteristics, three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted (accessed: December 22, 2021). Retrieved from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1410038001

In 2020, the average annual labour force participation rate for Kitchener-Waterloo-Barrie (KWB) Rural Economic Region (which includes rural areas in the KWB Economic Region, including Wellington County) was 62.0%. In the same year, the labour force participation rate was 67.3% for the Guelph CMA and 63.5% for Ontario. From 2011 to 2020, the average annual labour force participation rate for the KWB Rural Economic Region was consistently lower than the participation rate for the Guelph CMA. From 2019 to 2020 the labour force participation rate decreased for all three regions, after a slight increase from 2018 to 2019.

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*The KWB Rural Economic Region includes rural areas in the Kitchener-Waterloo-Barrie Economic Region, including Wellington County.

**The Guelph CMA includes the City of Guelph, Puslinch and Guelph/Eramosa Township.

Sources: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0090-01 (formerly CANSIM 282-0123) Labour force characteristics by province, territory and economic region, annual, inactive (accessed: December 22, 2021). Retrieved from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=1410009001

Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0096-01 (formerly CANSIM 282-0129) Labour force characteristics by census metropolitan area, annual, inactive (accessed: December 22, 2021). Retrieved from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=1410009601

Why is Labour Force Participation Important?

The labour force participation rate provides information about what percentage of the population (15 years and older) are working and/or available to work if and when a job opportunity presents itself. A decrease in the labour force participation rate signifies an increase in the number of people who are unavailable and/or unable to work.

Limitations and Data Notes

The annual labour force participation rate is not available for Wellington County on its own. The monthly labour force participation rate was seasonally adjusted, while the annual labour force participation rate was not seasonally adjusted.

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Please download the excel file below for more information about:

Key definitions
Labour force participation rates for all CMAs in the local Economic Region

Download Full Dataset

Government Financial Assistance

Financial assistance "includes income support to help with the costs of basic needs, like food, clothing, and shelter, as well as health benefits for individuals and families".^[5] People need government financial assistance when they are not employed and can't afford the daily costs of living. It is hard for people who receive social assistance to pay for basic needs like food and housing.^[6]

Ontario Disability Support Program Cases and Beneficiaries

Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) is government financial assistance for people 18 years and older with an ongoing physical or mental disability that makes it difficult for them to work, care for themselves or participate in their community. They also do not have enough income or assets to pay for daily living expenses.^[9] One ODSP case is an open or active file for one ODSP recipient. Beneficiaries are individuals who are the dependents of the person who receives the ODSP. Dependents may include spouses, dependent adults or dependent children.

Key Findings

The annual average number of Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) cases and beneficiaries is going up. From 2013 to 2018, the average annual number of cases and beneficiaries increased by 22% and 20% (respectively).

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*Wellington County includes the City of Guelph

Source: Ministry of Community and Social Services, Social Assistance Operations Performance Report for Wellington CMSM, December 2018.

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Please download the excel file below for more information about:

Number of cases and beneficiaries
Percent change in population from 2011 to 2016

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Ontario Works Caseload

This measure provides a count of the number of Ontario Works cases, as well as the percent of Ontario Works cases by family compostion.

Key Findings

From 2010 to 2018, the number of Ontario Works cases increased by 3.2%. From 2010 to 2018, the largest percent increase in number of OW case was 8.8% in 2016.

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Caseload data was not available for 2015.

Sources: Corporation of the County of Wellington (2016). 2016 Ontario Works Caseload Profile: A demographic analysis of the County of Wellington's Ontario Works Caseload.

Corporation of the County of Wellington (2017). Ontario Works Caseload Profile 2017.

Ministry of Community and Social Services, Social Assistance Operations Performance Report for Wellington CMSM, December 2018

Key Findings

In 2017 and 2018, the percent of Ontario Works (OW) cases that were single individuals decreased from 2016, while the percent of cases that were sole support families increased. Even with these decreases in 2017 and 2018, the majority of OW cases were single individuals. After single individuals, sole support families were the second most common family type to receive Ontario Works support.

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*There were no data available for 2015.

**Sole Support refers to a single parent with one or more dependent children.

Source: Corporation of the County of Wellington (2016). 2016 Ontario Works Caseload Profile: A demographic analysis of the County of Wellington's Ontario Works Caseload.

Corporation of the County of Wellington (2017). Ontario Works Caseload Profile 2017.

Ministry of Community and Social Services, Social Assistance Operations Performance Report for Wellington CMSM, December 2018

Limitations

Comparing recent data to data from before November 2014 should be done with caution due to the changes in the methods and tools used to record information.

Looking for more information?

Please download the excel file below for more information about:

Number of cases by family composition

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Why are Government Financial Assistance Rates Important?

Tracking the need for financial assistance is part of understanding economic security and long-term unemployment. This information can be used to inform the supports and services that may be needed in an area.

Unemployment

Measure: Unemployment Rate

People are considered unemployed when they do not have paid work but are available and actively looking for work. The labour force includes both people who are employed and those who are unemployed. The unemployment rate is calculated by dividing the number of people who are unemployed by the total labour force.^[1]

Key Findings

In April 2020, the unemployment rate increased notably for both the Guelph CMA and Ontario. This increase coincided with job losses across Canada due to the restrictions put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19. A slight increase in unemployment occurred in the first half of 2021, which coincided with restrictions put in place in response to the third wave of COVID-19.

In general since 2011, the unemployment rate for the Guelph CMA has been lower than the provincial rate and has often been the lowest or among the lowest of all CMAs across the country. However, from September 2017 to January 2018, the unemployment rate for the Guelph CMA was slightly above the Ontario rate. The Guelph CMA also experienced a higher unemployment rate than Ontario when the unemployment rate increased during the COVID-19 pandemic (April to August 2020 and March to June 2021).

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*The Guelph CMA includes the City of Guelph, Puslinch and Guelph/Eramosa Township.

Source: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0380-01 Labour force characteristics, three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted (accessed: December 22, 2021). Retrieved from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1410038001

From 2011 to 2020, the annual unemployment rate was consistently lower for the Kitchener-Waterloo-Barrie Rural Economic Region (which is made up of the rural areas in the KWB Economic Region, including Wellington County) and the Guelph CMA when compared to Ontario and Canada. The annual unemployment rate for the KWB Rural Economic Region decreased every year from 2011 to 2018, with the exception of 2017 which saw a slight increase from the preceding years; the annual unemployment rate for the Guelph CMA showed more fluctuation. The unemployment rate was lowest in 2018 for the KWB Rural Economic Region, the KWB Economic Region, the Guelph CMA, Ontario and Canada.

In 2019, the KWB Rural Economic Region, the KWB Economic Region, and the Guelph CMA all saw increases in unemployment rate compared to the preceding year. In contrast, the unemployment rate for Ontario remained the same between 2018 and 2019 and the unemployment rate for Canada decreased slightly. From 2019 to 2020, the unemployment rate increased notably in all regions, which coincided with job losses across Canada due to the restrictions put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19.

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*The KWB Rural Economic Region includes rural areas in the Kitchener-Waterloo-Barrie Economic Region, including Wellington County.

**The Guelph CMA includes the City of Guelph, Puslinch and Guelph/Eramosa Township.

Sources: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0090-01 (formerly CANSIM 282-0123) Labour force characteristics by province, territory and economic region, annual, inactive (accessed: December 22, 2021). Retrieved from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=1410009001

Why is Unemployment Important?

Unemployment impacts individuals, families and communities. High rates of unemployment can lead to decreased labour productivity. Not having a job is connected to higher rates of stress, physical and mental health issues, poverty, crime, negative health outcomes, decreased self-esteem and feelings of being left out.^[8,3]

A low unemployment rate is an indicator of a strong local economy. The unemployment rate is best understood by also considering the labour force participation rate, as well as the types of jobs and working conditions that are available for people.

Limitations

The annual unemployment rate for Wellington County on its own is not available, therefore it is not possible to identify changes in unemployment that may be unique to Wellington County.

Looking for more information?

Please download the excel file below for more information about:

Key definitions
Unemployment rates for all CMAs in the local Economic Region

Download Full Dataset

References

[1] Statistics Canada (2008). Labour Force. Available at: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/81-004-x/def/4153361-eng.htm

[2] International Labour Organization (2017) Working Conditions. Available at: http://www.ilo.org/global/topics/working-conditions/lang--en/index.htm

[3] Mikkonen, J. & Raphael, D. (2010). Social Determinants of Health: The Canadian Facts. Toronto: York University School of Health Policy and Management. Available at: http://www.thecanadianfacts.org/The_Canadian_Facts.pdf

[4] Statistics Canada (2016). Section 1: Concepts and definitions. Available at: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/eng/dai/btd/sad-faq/sec1

[5] Ministry of Community and Social Services (2016). Ontario Works Overview. Available at: http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/social/ow/

[6] Lankin, F. Sheikh, M.A. (2012) Brighter Prospects: Transforming Social Assistance in Ontario. A Report to the Minister or Community and Social Services.

[7] Central 1 Credit Union (2016). Ontario Employment Insurance Trends.

[8] The Conference Board of Canada (2017). Unemployment Rate. Available at: http://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/details/economy/unemployement-rate.aspx

[9] Ministry of Community and Social Services (n.d.) Eligiblity for ODSP Income Support. Available at: http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/social/odsp/income_support/IS_Eligibility.aspx#_financialNeed