The Canadian environment, in which a transition system must operate, is unique. In this chapter, we look at the changing labour market in Canada and at the kinds of transitions occurring there. We examine the statistics or quantitative data available and provide some background information about Canadian demographic and labour market trends. These "Canadian realities" are then taken into account in the model developed in chapter 4.
In the first part of this chapter, we examine the diversity of individual situations and detail the characteristics of the emerging Canadian workforce -- the supply side of the Canadian labour market. We also describe current labour market conditions -- the demand side -- and look at the trends in employment, by industry and occupation, and in workplace organization.
In the second half of this chapter, we provide details about Canadians currently making transitions. We look at how education -- both secondary and post-secondary -- has an impact on the success of transitions.
The diversity of individual situations
The demographics of the Canadian population and its uneven distribution have significant effects on transitions into employment. Age, gender, and ethnic factors have profound consequences for Canadian society and, particularly, for the labour force. The combined effects of a low fertility rate, increased life expectancy, and immigration are rapidly changing the structure of the population. Data presented in this section were drawn mainly from Statistics Canada and Employment and Immigration Canada surveys, national censuses, and Human Resources Development (HRD) reports.
Aging of Canadian society
Recent and projected figures clearly show that the labour force is aging (Figure 4); the proportion of people under 35 years of age (15-24 and 25-34 groups) has decreased from almost 60% of the labour force in 1980 to less than 50% in 1990 and is expected to be under 40% by 2005. Actually, the trend is toward "middle-aging" as the proportion of people 55 years of age and over has been decreasing and is now becoming stable. Previously, increasingly early retirement tended to offset the increasing size of new generations reaching that age group. From the first years of the new century, this may not be the case as the generations continue to be larger and pressure to work longer, rather than retire early, may be felt.