When we work

In an effort to provide employees with work schedules to fit their needs, employers are becoming more flexible. For example, job sharing (where two or more people split the duties of one position) is growing in popularity. In 1997, approximately 8% of part-time workers participated in shared employment, which is particularly popular among nurses and teachers. Other employers offer their workers control over the time they start and end their workday, or a compressed work week, allowing them to balance their careers with other activities. Temporary and contract workers also afford employers more flexibility in managing their work forces. Some 12% of Canadian workers in 1998 fell into this category.

The number of Canadians holding down two or more positions has been rising. In 1987, 504,000 (4%) workers held more than one job; in 2002, that number had risen to 779,000 (5%). While 9% of all workers put in more than 50 hours a week, 40% of multiple-job holders worked that amount in 2002.