Barriers to Work for Canada's Unemployed
TORONTO - January 24, 2018
- In an Era of Plentiful Jobs, More Than a Million Canadians Are Out of Work.
- New White Paper Explores Five Barriers That Stand in the Way
Express Employment Professionals released a white paper today, entitled "
Battle of the Barriers
," exploring five key barriers that get in the way of workers seeking jobs-even with Canada's record low unemployment rate.
Drawing from the real-life experience of owners and clients, Express Employment identified five common barriers to employment. These are the challenges that too many Canadians face in their search for employment:
- Transportation
- Child care and elder care
- Government policies such as the minimum wage
- Education/skills training
- Communications issues
"In a growing economy, it is sometimes easy to forget about the unemployed, but it's clear real barriers are standing in the way between unemployed Canadians and a regular pay cheque," said Bob Funk, Express Chairman and CEO.
The January 2018 Labour Force Survey confirmed that with a near record low 5.7 per cent unemployment rate, there are still 1.1 million people officially counted as unemployed. That number does not count those no longer in the workforce. Canada's labour force participation rate is at 65.8 per cent, a near 10-year low.
The white paper also explores ways to move past the barriers and how Canadian workers, employers and policymakers can start to tackle the issues together. Whether it's learning English or French, moving to a new part of the country, offering workers flexibility and job training or changing legislation, a growing economy is the ideal time to tackle the barriers to employment.
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If you would like to arrange for an interview to discuss this topic, please contact Kellie Major at (613) 222-7488 or email
kellie@mapleleafstrategies.com.
About Robert A. Funk
Robert A. "Bob" Funk is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment Professionals. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the international staffing company has more than 770 franchises in the U.S., Canada and South Africa. Under his leadership, Express has put more than 6 million people to work worldwide. Funk served as Chairman of the Conference of Chairmen of the Federal Reserve and was also the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
About Express Employment Professionals
Express Employment Professionals puts people to work. It generated $3.05 billion in sales and employed a record 510,000 people in 2016. Its long-term goal is to put a million people to work annually. For more information, visit
ExpressPros.com.