Is job insecurity on the rise? Evidence from Canadian perception data

Abstract

This paper examines the unexplored issue of worker insecurity perception in Canada. Specifically, we explore for changes in worker perceptions of job security using Canadian Gallup data for the 1977-2006 period. We find that the high levels of perceived insecurity of the early to mid-1990s were only cyclical in nature, not evidence of structural change. We also explore for differences across socio-economic groups and find that university educated workers, full-time workers, and white-collar workers all felt relatively more secure about present and future job prospects. Interestingly, union members tend to be more concerned about job security (than non-union). © Canadian Economics Association.