The spatial dimensions of temporary employment in Canada

Abstract

The flexibility of labour markets has entailed a growing use of temporary employment that is associated with limited work arrangements that are often unprotected, poorly paid, and socio‐economically insecure. Yet, the factors that shape the patterning of temporary employment and its types (seasonal, casual, and contract jobs) are relatively unknown in Canada. Using data from Statistics Canada's 2016 Labour Force Survey and the 2016 Census, this paper examines the spatial characteristics influencing the patterns of temporary employment and its types across Canada's census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations (CMAs/CAs). We hypothesize that geographies characterized by a high proportion of immigrants, highly educated populations, and highly unemployed populations have a greater likelihood of workers employed in temporary employment and its types. Our analyses support these hypotheses as population characteristics (CMAs/CAs with a high share of Asian immigrants); labour market characteristics (unemployment rate and prevalence of low income in CMAs/CAs); and human capital characteristics (CMAs/CAs characterized by a large share of populations with a bachelor's degree or higher) contributed more to explaining positive temporary employment outcomes than did occupation characteristics. This study adds valuable insights into the spatial dimensions of labour market insecurity that could be valuable in formulating place‐based policies that address labour market inequalities.