Canadians with Disabilities, Labour Market Challenges, and Employment Opportunities in the Social Economy

Authors

  • Michael Prince University of Victoria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22230/cjnser.2014v5n1a161

Keywords:

Disability movement, Harper government, Population aging, Public policy / Mouvement des personnes handicapées, Gouvernement Harper, Vieillissement de la population, Politiques publiques

Abstract

ABSTRACT

This article examines the labour force participation of working-age adults with disabilities, and proposes nonprofits and community agencies as sites for employing disabled Canadians. It documents employment trends over the last 15 years and how they compare to those for people without disabilities. The employment reform agenda of the Canadian disability movement is outlined as two broad approaches: distributional improvements and structural innovations. Inclusive and gainful employment is regarded as an essential part of economic and social citizenship. The challenges of labour force participation for adults with disabilities are then related to recent reports on Canada’s aging population and to Harper government policies on employment for Canadians with disabilities. Finally, it explores applying a disability inclusion lens to the operations of social economy organizations.

RÉSUMÉ

Cet article porte sur la participation active des adultes en âge de travailler ayant des incapacités et propose la possibilité d'organismes sans but lucratif et des organismes communautaires comme un site d'emploi pour les Canadiens handicapés. Il documente les tendances de l'emploi au cours des 15 dernières années et comment ils se comparent aux personnes non handicapées. Le programme de réformes du travail du mouvement des personnes handicapées est décrite et approches de la réforme sont dites de diviser en deux grandes catégories : des améliorations et innovations structurelles. Travail rémunéré et inclusif est considéré comme une partie essentielle de la citoyenneté économique et sociale avec le préposé aux droits et responsabilités. Les défis de la participation de la population active pour les adultes ayant une déficience sont ensuite liés aux rapports publics récents sur la population vieillissante du Canada et aux décisions prises par le gouvernement conservateur Harper sur l'emploi pour les Canadiens ayant une déficience. Apprentissage politique et connaissances transfert peut se produire en appliquant une lentille d'inclusion des personnes handicapées aux activités des organisations d'économie sociale.

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References

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Published

2014-05-12

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Articles