Accessibility matters: Pathways to a more inclusive future
Innovation Issue 36: Spring 2022
The need to improve Indigenous populations��� access to standard work

The need to improve Indigenous populations��� access to standard work
The over-representation of Indigenous populations in non-standard jobs is leading to income inequality, says a recent report co-authored by Danielle Lamb, a 91心頭利 professor of human resource management and organizational behaviour in the Ted Rogers School of Management.
The report, , written for the Journal of Industrial Relations by professor Lamb and her co-author, University of Toronto professor Anil Verma, examines earning disparities for Indigenous populations through the lens of type of work.
In their article, professors Lamb and Verma describe non-standard employment as anything outside of regular, full-time employment. They show that Indigenous men are 24 per cent more likely to be in a full-time, non-permanent job rather than a standard job when compared to their non-Indigenous peers. Also, the percentage of those who are in part-time work involuntarily is 25 per cent higher for Indigenous males, as compared to non-Indigenous, Canadian-born males.
Indigenous women are 18 per cent more likely to be in full-time, non-permanent work and 15 per cent more likely to be in involuntary part-time work, as compared to non-Indigenous, Canadian-born women.
By contrast, Canadian-born women choose to work part-time. Indigenous women are 37 per cent less likely to opt into part-time work voluntarily.
These findings are significant because non-standard work is associated with lower earnings.
���We found that the earning gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous earners are smaller in non-standard work,��� said professor Lamb. ���Non-standard work may often represent a second-tier of the labour market, and no matter who is performing the work, the pay is generally lower. What���s more concerning is the over-representation of Indigenous workers in that market.���
Barriers need to be eliminated to create more secure jobs for Indigenous workers, noted professor Lamb. ���Often the answer is prescriptive ��� more education,��� she said. However, she argues that we must look beyond education to build more achievable solutions. ���The value of additional education is limited if people are unable to secure high quality employment.���
���We need to look at the pipelines into these higher quality jobs and find ways for Indigenous workers to access these jobs,��� said professor Lamb, adding that quality jobs go beyond better earnings for workers. ���Standard jobs have some security, typically better wages, benefits, opportunities for growth and development. They also have access to statutory protections.���

