The Complex Relationship: Employment and Poverty in Canada

This essay examines the pervasive issue of poverty in Canada, highlighting that over five million Canadians currently live in poverty. It identifies vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities, single parents, and racialized communities, as disproportionately affected. The essay references statistical data indicating a significant percentage of Canadians living with low income, a key indicator of poverty. It explores the role of precarious jobs, low wages, and involuntary part-time work in contributing to the problem, particularly among younger generations. The author emphasizes the need for education, awareness of birth control policies, and governmental and societal collaboration to combat poverty. The essay concludes by suggesting tax reforms and other initiatives to improve employment rates and address the root causes of poverty for a better future for Canada.

Running Head; EMPLOYMENT AND POVERTY IN CANADA
Employment and Poverty in Canada
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1POVERTY AND EMPLOYMENT IN CANADA
It has been found that more than five million people are going through poverty in Canada
as per the current survey. The issue of poverty is widespread across the country and people with
disabilities, single parents and the racialized communities are the most vulnerable to the poverty
and employment related issues. According to Lee& Rodríguez-Pose (2016), statistical overview
suggests that more than 14.9% of Canadians live with low income. It is equally true that this low
income is fast reaching the stats of ‘poor’. As informed by the Department of Human Resources
and Skills Development Canada, the ‘low income’ is the only way of measuring poverty. Since
the mid- 1990s, the Economic Co-operation and Development suggested, the poverty level in
Canada has significantly risen.
Studies have shown that there are few groups which get affected by poverty the most.
These groups are the most susceptible to the economic condition of the country. The groups
include the aboriginal people of Australia, the people with physical or mental disabilities and the
single parents. Apart from these, child poverty in Canada is also high. The recent UNICEF
survey has declared that 13.3 percent of Canadian children live in impoverished condition as
informed by Bosmans et al., (2017). There are many negative aspects of poverty and among
them the most concerning aspect is it is a huge burden on the economy of the country and gives
rise to criminal activities and other illegal professions.
Since unequal distribution of employment is one of the most potential reasons behind
increasing poverty rates, it must be observed and resolved by the judicial system of the country.
The country council is also responsible for bringing change and better the current situation. As
per the view of Verma (2015), being extremely poverty ridden, most of the people of Canada
have opted for the precarious jobs which have remarkable abundance in this Country. One of the
major reasons behind the poverty of Australia is such precarious jobs. These jobs are less secure,

2POVERTY AND EMPLOYMENT IN CANADA
where the employees are forced to work on extremely low wages. Studies have found that most
of the people in Australia especially the younger generation take up these kind of jobs to run
their own expenses on their own. However, the most crucial factor is that, these jobs do not fill
up the economic gap one faces in the long run future. As argued by Rothwell & Robson (2018),
such involuntary part time jobs and also the trend of self-employment are completely illusory
and one cannot depend on these jobs for a long time. May be there are lot of jobs, but the
question is, are they suitable one? The ultimate analysis of the relation of employment and
poverty in Canada would suggest that the base problem of poverty stays unresolved.
The problem can be resolved by first of all educating the people of Canada. Increasing
the literacy rates can subsequently increase the number of good and secured jobs in the country.
The awareness about the birth control policies is important to be spread among the citizens.
Poverty does not go alone. As supported by Samuel et al., (2018), there are so many issues
related with it such as social exclusion, inadequate housing and also transportation and service
problems. The early age employment has to be restricted in order to save the country. The
collaborative effort of the government and the citizens can bring the change. The Canadian
government has already taken up the initiative to reduce the poverty levels and also encouraged
economic growth. Tax reformation system can also change the scenario and put a discernible
effect on the rates of employment.
Therefore, it can be said that the poverty issues have to be resolved as soon as possible by
the clear concern of the society in order to make a better Canada in future and preserve its
heritage.

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Reference
Bosmans, K., Lewchuk, W., De Cuyper, N., Hardonk, S., Van Aerden, K., & Vanroelen, C.
(2017). The experience of employment strain and activation among temporary agency
workers in Canada. Society, Health & Vulnerability, 8(1), 1306914.
Lee, N., & Rodríguez-Pose, A. (2016). Is there trickle-down from tech? Poverty, employment,
and the high-technology multiplier in US cities. Annals of the American Association of
Geographers, 106(5),1114-1134.
Rothwell, D., & Robson, J. (2018). The prevalence and composition of asset poverty in Canada:
1999, 2005, and 2012. International Journal of Social Welfare, 27(1), 17-27.
Samuel, K., Alkire, S., Zavaleta, D., Mills, C., & Hammock, J. (2018). Social isolation and its
relationship to multidimensional poverty. Oxford Development Studies, 46(1), 83-97.
Verma, R. B. (2015). Poverty in Canada. Canadian Studies in Population, 42(1-2), 153-156.