Personal Support Workers in Canada: The New Precariat?
Katherine Zagrodney1, Mike Saks2
1PhD candidate, Health Services Research, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
Healthcare Policy = Politiques De Sante
|December 24, 2017
Summary
The study examines if personal support workers (PSWs) in Canada are part of the precariat, a group facing low wages and job insecurity. Findings suggest PSWs share precariat characteristics, impacting healthcare policy.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Labor Economics
- Sociology
Background:
- The concept of the 'precariat' describes a growing class of workers with precarious employment conditions.
- Personal Support Workers (PSWs) are a significant and expanding group within the healthcare sector.
- Understanding the employment conditions of PSWs is crucial for healthcare system stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically assess whether Personal Support Workers (PSWs) in Canada exhibit characteristics of the precariat.
- To analyze the position of PSWs within the Canadian healthcare labor market.
- To explore the implications of PSW employment conditions for government health policy.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of existing empirical data on PSWs in Canada.
- Comparative assessment of PSW employment features against the definition of the precariat.
- Examination of labor market dynamics affecting PSWs.
Main Results:
- PSWs exhibit several key features associated with the precariat, including low wages and job insecurity.
- Their position in the healthcare labor market aligns with precarious work conditions.
- The findings highlight significant challenges within the PSW workforce.
Conclusions:
- PSWs in Canada display characteristics that place them within the precariat.
- The precarious nature of PSW employment has substantial implications for Canadian healthcare policy.
- Addressing these issues is vital for ensuring a stable and effective healthcare workforce.
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