Unemployment as an issue for public health: preliminary findings from North York

Unemployment is a critical health care issue in Canada, an important social determinant of health and, as such, an issue of concern for public health practitioners. However, indications are that the face of unemployment is changing, creating new challenges for those in the front line of service provision. Phase one of this ongoing action research study documents changes in the unemployed populations as perceived by social service organizations, including the public health department, and the agencies' response to those changes in the city of North York. It concludes with the implications of the changes for public health practitioners.