Published: Wednesday, September 05, 2007

OTTAWA -- There are a lot more of them -- and they pay more -- but there's been no real improvement in the quality of Canadian jobs during the past decade, a new study has found.

"The economic prosperity of the new century hasn't resulted in an overall improvement in job quality, even though many Canadian employers are struggling to attract and keep skilled workers," says the study by the Canadian Policy Research Networks, an Ottawa-based think-tank.

The study, which bills itself as the first comprehensive assessment of job quality in Canada in the 21st century, examined more than two dozen indicators of job quality. It found a mixed picture. For example, the study found that job security, earnings, and workplace health and safety have improved.

However, job satisfaction and participation in job-related training have stagnated, while other indicators have worsened -- including work-life balance, job stress and union membership.

While worker satisfaction with the pay received has increased slightly, it remains lower than overall job satisfaction, which hasn't increased. Just over one-third of employees said they are "very satisfied" and 55 per cent were "satisfied."

"It should be of concern that only about one-third of all workers are very satisfied with their jobs and that fewer than one in five employees are very positive about multiple dimensions of job quality," said Graham Lowe, author of the report.

With Canada's workforce aging, and skilled workers at a premium, the report urges employers to make job quality a key component of their employment renewal efforts.

It also calls for an annual national survey on job quality and says that voluntary standards for improving job quality should be established.

"Job quality is one of the keys to encouraging older workers to remain economically active," it says. Canada has generated an unprecedented number of new jobs this decade, the baby boom retirement wave is growing, and there are fewer young workers to replace them, it notes.

"This is a recipe for serious workforce renewal difficulties," it warns.

Among the study's findings:

·        A tight labour market has brought only a slight shift to more full-time jobs, while there has been little decline in "precarious" employment -- temporary, part-time and self-employment.

·        Earnings have increased but there has also been an increase in income inequality.

·        Employer-sponsored pension plans and supplemental medical benefits have declined, which could have significant implications for quality of life for workers and their families.

·        Job-related training is either stagnant or at best increasing very slightly, while Canada's training record compared with that of other industrial countries is mediocre and slipping.

·        Lost-time injuries have eased considerably but workplace fatalities are on the rise, which runs counter to the decline in most other industrial countries.

·        Absenteeism has increased steadily for both men and women, which is an indicator of a decline in job quality.

·        Dissatisfaction with the balance between work and employees' lives has increased slightly.

·        There have been slight declines in the proportion of workers who consider themselves "workaholics" and who find most work days "quite a bit" or "extremely" stressful, which indicates an improvement in job quality.

CIBC World Markets, which also measures the quality of jobs, reported early this year that its employment quality index had hit its lowest level in more than a decade.

However, there has been some improvement since.

In a report last month, CIBC said its index -- based on the share of jobs that are full-time versus part-time, paid employment versus self-employment and the level of compensation of full-time jobs -- rose almost two per cent in the first six months of the year.

If you want a satisfied workforce that fully engages in every aspect of your business what do you do?  Some business leaders believe that corporate business training alone is enough. However Jeff Campbell, President of High Performance Employees, says that if having motivated and engaged employees is your goal then you must listen to your employees and let them be your guide. You can literally listen your employees into existence. When you listen to them and act on their advice they feel special. And when they feel special they act in a special way. They will be more loyal, productive and happy employees than you could ever have imagined.

To find out how High Performance Employees recommends listening to your employees click on the following link. (I Want Happy Employees)

Bye for now,

Jeff Campbell
High Performance Employees - Helping you to "Grow your People"