In the purportedly diverse and accepting landscape of North America, the labour market paints a different picture. Black people and People of Colour (POC) find themselves concentrated in specific working-class industries, leading to a concerning division. The unequal distribution of labour, particularly in vulnerable positions, became more evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article delves into the reasons behind the racial disparities in the labour market, the concentration of low-paying jobs among Black individuals, and the consequences that unfold during crises.
A report titled Canada’s Colour Coded Labour Market analyzed census data, revealing a racial divide in the Canadian labour market. Racialized men and women are disproportionately represented in fields such as administrative support, waste management, and remediation services. The overrepresentation extends to low-wage jobs, including call center employees, security guards, and janitors. Contract jobs, prevalent in healthcare, further exacerbate the precarious nature of employment, hindering long-term financial stability.
“The overrepresentation of Black people in low-paying job sectors has placed a significant barrier to the livelihood of Black Canadians, pushing them closer to poverty and restricting their advancement in a diverse economy.”
The roots of this division can be traced to structural exclusion and cultural association. Until the 1960s, Black individuals faced exclusion from various sectors, forcing them into low-wage jobs. While reforms allowed entry into different professions, the patterns of structural exclusion persisted. Cultural association played a role in concentrating Black workers in specific professions, making them visibly Black, while white individuals enjoyed opportunities across various fields, creating “white-only” industries in higher-paying sectors.
“Forcing Black people into certain areas of labour meant that these professions became visibly Black, while white people were able to exist in all fields, while also creating ‘white-only’ industries in the higher-paying fields.”
The healthcare sector exemplifies the disparities within the labour market. Black individuals, particularly women, often find themselves in low-paying positions like personal support workers (PSWs) and practical nurses in long-term care settings. In contrast, white women in healthcare occupy diverse roles, including supervisory positions. This concentration of Black workers in physically demanding roles exposes them to workplace disadvantages, especially in understaffed facilities, increasing vulnerability to injury.
The racialized nature of the labour market became starkly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. Racialized groups, overrepresented in low-wage, non-unionized, and contract-based sectors, faced heightened vulnerability. One in three Black women worked as frontline workers, including PSWs and nursing assistants, during the pandemic. The pressure to work, even amidst a global health crisis, highlights the societal expectations imposed on Black workers, intertwining racial pressures with economic vulnerability.
“Black workers are confronted with the societal pressures of Blackness combined with being vulnerable to the unstable nature of the markets.”
The racial disparities in North America’s labour market are deeply rooted in historical structural exclusion and persisting cultural associations. The concentration of Black individuals in low-paying, precarious jobs not only impedes their financial stability but also exposes them to increased risks during crises. Addressing these disparities requires not only fair wages but also enhanced job security within contracts and opportunities for career advancement. By dismantling the historical barriers that perpetuate this division, the labour market can become a more equitable and inclusive space for all.
PORT ALBERNI, B.C. – RCMP say the body of a second person has been found inside their vehicle after a road washed away amid pouring rain on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Police say two vehicles went into the Sarita River when Bamfield Road washed out on Saturday as an atmospheric river hammered southern B.C.
The body of the other driver was found Sunday.
More coming.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
The B.C. Greens say Sonia Furstenau will be staying on as party leader, despite losing her seat in the legislature in Saturday’s provincial election.
The party says in a statement that its two newly elected MLAs, Jeremy Valeriote and Rob Botterell, support Furstenau’s leadership as they “navigate the prospect of having the balance of power in the legislature.”
Neither the NDP led by Premier David Eby nor the B.C. Conservatives led by John Rustad secured a majority in the election, with two recounts set to take place from Oct. 26 to 28.
Eby says in a news conference that while the election outcome is uncertain, it’s “very likely” that the NDP would need the support of others to pass legislation.
He says he reached out to Furstenau on election night to congratulate her on the Greens’ showing.
But he says the Green party has told the NDP they are “not ready yet” for a conversation about a minority government deal.
The Conservatives went from taking less than two per cent of the vote in 2020 to being elected or leading in 45 ridings, two short of a majority and only one behind the NDP.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio is making a difference, 4,175 kilometres away from home.
The 32-year-old Canadian international midfielder, whose parents hail from Colombia, has been working with the Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization, a charity whose goal is to help disadvantaged youth in the South American country.
Osorio has worked behind the scenes, with no fanfare.
Until now, with his benevolence resulting in becoming Toronto FC’s nominee for the Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award, which honours an MLS player “who showed outstanding dedication to charitable efforts and serving the community” during the 2024 season.”
Other nominees include Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and CF Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.
The winner will be announced in late November.
The Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization (CCCO) is run entirely by volunteers like Monica Figueredo and Claudia Soler. Founded in 1991, it received charitable status in 2005.
The charity currently has four projects on the go: two in Medellin and one each in Armenia and Barranquilla.
They include a school, a home for young girls whose parents are addicted to drugs, after-school and weekend programs for children in a disadvantaged neighbourhood, and nutrition and education help for underprivileged youth.
The organization heard about Osorio and was put in contact with him via an intermediary, which led to a lunch meeting. Osorio did his due diligence and soon got back to the charity with his decision.
“It was something that I wanted to be a part of right away,” said Osorio, whose lone regret is that he didn’t get involved sooner.
“I’m fortunate now that to help more now that I could have back then,” he added. “The timing actually worked out for everybody. For the last three years I have donated to their cause and we’ve built a couple of (football) fields in different cities over there in the schools.”
His father visited one of the sites in Armenia close to his hometown.
“He said it was amazing, the kids, how grateful they are to be able to play on any pitch, really,” said Osorio. “But to be playing on a new pitch, they’re just so grateful and so humble.
“It really makes it worth it being part of this organization.”
The collaboration has also made Osorio take stock.
“We’re very fortunate here in Canada, I think, for the most part. Kids get to go to school and have a roof over their head and things like that. In Colombia, it’s not really the same case. My father and his family grew up in tough conditions, so giving back is like giving back to my father.”
Osorio’s help has been a godsend to the charity.
“We were so surprised with how willing he was,” said Soler.
The TFC skipper has helped pay for a football field in Armenia as well as an ambitious sports complex under construction in Barranquilla.
“It’s been great for them,” Figueredo said of the pitch in Armenia. “Because when they go to school, now they have a proper place to train.”
Osorio has also sent videos encouraging the kids to stay active — as well as shipping soccer balls and signed jerseys their way.
“They know more about Jonathan than the other players in Colombia,” Figueredo said. “That’s the funny part. Even though he’s far away, they’ve connected with him.”
“They feel that they have a future, that they can do more,” she added. “Seeing that was really, really great.”
The kids also followed Osorio through the 2022 World Cup and this summer’s Copa America.
Back home, Osorio has also attended the charity’s annual golf tournament, helping raise funds.
A Toronto native, he has long donated four tickets for every TFC home game to the Hospital for Sick Children.
Vancouver’s Berhalter was nominated for his involvement in the Whitecaps’ partnership with B.C. Children’s Hospital while Montreal’s Sirois was chosen for his work with the Montreal Impact Foundation.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.
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