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Employment and Working Conditions

A mother and daughter speaking with a doctor

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 (LFP) 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 LFP 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 2017 to 2019, the labour force participation rate in the Guelph CMA was consistently higher than the provincial rate. The labour force participation rate tells us what percentage of the population (15 years and older) are working and/or available if and when a job opportunity presented 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.

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

Source: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0294-01 - Labour force characteristics by census metropolitan area, three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted and unadjusted, last 5 months. Available at: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1410029401

Key Findings

In 2018, the average annual labour force participation rate for Kitchener-Waterloo-Barrie (KWB) rural economic region (which includes rural areas in KWB region, including Wellington County) was 63%. In the same year, the labour force participation rate (LFP) was 68% for the Guelph CMA and 64.5% for Ontario. From 2011 to 2018, the average annual labour force participation rates for the Kitchener-Waterloo-Barrie rural economic region were consistently lower than the participation rates for the Guelph CMA. From 2017 to 2018 the labour force participation rates decreased for the KWB economic region, the Guelph CMA, the Kitchener, Cambridge, Waterloo CMA, the Barrie CMA, Ontario and Canada.

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

Sources:Statistics Canada.Table 14-10-0090-01 - Labour force survey estimates (LFS), by provinces, territories and economic regions, annual

Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0096-01 - Labour force survey estimates (LFS), by census metropolitan area, sex and age group, annual

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 if and when a job opportunity presented itself. A decrease in the labour force participation rate would signify 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 particiation rate was not seasonally adjusted.

Looking for more information?

For more information about this measure, please download the excel files below.

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]

Rate of Employment Insurance

This measure provides the percent of the population who received regular employment insurance (EI) benefits each month. The number of people on EI is impacted by seasonal factors, access to employment (including lay-offs and finding new employment), interprovincial migration and the end of EI eligibility period.^[7]

Key Findings

Since the begining of 2017, regular employment insurance usage in the Guelph CMA was highest in July 2017, followed by August 2017 and March 2017. This trend has been been similar since 2011. When compared to Ontario, the EI usage is consistently lower in Guelph.

In Ontario the percent of EI recipients was usually highest in March, February and January, followed in general, by August. In the Guelph CMA, the pattern showed more variation across time. Often, the highest proportion of the population received regular EI benefits in August, followed by March, July, January and/or February.

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

Sources: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0012-01 Employment insurance beneficiaries by census metropolitan category, monthly, unadjusted for seasonality. Available at: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1410001201

Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0294-01 Labour force characteristics by census metropolitan area, three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted and unadjusted, last 5 months

Key Findings

In Wellington County (not including the Guelph CMA), the percent of the labour force that received employment insurance was usually highest in January, February and March, followed, in general, by August. This trend has stayed generally the same since January 2011 (not shown in chart; download excel file below for more information).

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

Source:

Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0014-01 Employment insurance beneficiaries by census division, monthly, unadjusted for seasonality. Available at https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1410001401

Statistics Canada. 2017. Guelph [Census Metropolitan Area], Ontario and Wellington, CTY [Census division], Ontario (table). Census Profile. 2016 Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-316-X2016001. Ottawa. Released November 29, 2017. https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E (accessed June 8, 2018).

Limitations

The number of people in the labour force (LF) is available monthly for the Guelph CMA and Ontario, therefore the monthly number of people in the LF was used to calculate the monthly percent of the LF receiving regular EI benefits. The number of people in the labour force (LF) for Wellington County is only available every five years, however the number of people receiving EI benefits is available monthly. Due to the inability to update the denominator monthly for the calculation of the percent of people who receive EI benefits in Wellington County, there will be some error in this calculation that should be considered when looking at trends across time. Comparisons between Wellington County and Guelph CMA and Ontario should also take into consideration the difference in denominators used to make the calculation at the three geographic levels.

Download Full Dataset

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.

Looking for more information?

Please download the excel file below for more information about:

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

Download Full Dataset

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

Download Full Dataset

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 general since 2011, the unemployment rate for the Guelph Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) was lower than the provincial rate and often the lowest or among the lowest of all CMAs across the country; one exception was from September 2017 to January 2018, when the unemployment rate for the Guelph CMA was above the provincial rate. From February 2018 to February 2019, the unemployment rate for Guelph was again below the provincial rate.

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Source: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0294-01 - Labour force characteristics by census metropolitan area, three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted and unadjusted, last 5 months (accessed: March 19, 2019). Retrieved from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1410029401

Key Findings

From 2011 to 2018, the annual unemployment rate was consistently lower for the Kitchener-Waterloo-Barrie (KWB) Rural Economic Region (which is the rural areas in the KWB region, including Wellington County) and Guelph Census Metropolitan Area (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 2016; the annual unemployment rate for the Guelph CMA showed more fluctuation. From 2011 to 2018, the unemployment rate was lowest in 2018 for the KWB Rural Economic Region, the KWB Economic Region, the Guelph CMA, Ontario and Canada.

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*Wellington County does not include Guelph CMA. Guelph CMA includes the City of Guelph, Puslinch and Guelph/Eramosa Township.

Sources: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0090-01 - Labour force survey estimates (LFS), by provinces, territories and economic regions, annual

Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0096-01 - Labour force survey estimates (LFS), by census metropolitan area, sex and age group, annual

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 indentify changes in unemployment that may be unique to Wellington County.

Looking for more information?

Please download the excel files 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