Putting employers to work in economic development in the Atlantic provinces of Canada

Abstract

The Atlantic provinces of Canada – New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador – face persistent social and economic challenges, including low labour productivity, high levels of public debt and a declining workforce. There are persistent issues of low wages and high levels of underemployment and seasonal/part-time work. The policy responses proposed to tackle these challenges have focused on innovation clusters in science and technology fields, the attraction and retention of skills and unskilled immigrants to the region, and some upskilling of the local workforce. Absent is a consideration of the role of employers and businesses, and the quality of jobs available in addressing these challenges. Decent jobs have implications for individual, societal and organizational outcomes, including innovative work behaviours. This article argues that there is a need to consider job quality and how good quality jobs can support organizational and business innovation outcomes, as part of these policy debates for local economic development.