Employment Trends and Patterns

Social Sciences aim for a rational and systematic understanding of human society. They are concerned with the origin and development of human society, and the institutions, relationships, and ideas involved in social life. Including: anthropologypsychology sociologyeconomics political sciencelaw criminology

Anthropology is the scientific study of all aspects of human life and culture j Anthropology examines such topics as how people live, what they think, what they produce, and how they interact with their environments. jAnthropologists try to understand the full range of human diversity as well as what all people share in common. jAnthropology is based on three key concepts: society, culture, and evolution. Anthropology: A Definition

Psychology is the scientific study of individual behaviour and the mind. j psychology is a scientific enterprise that obtains knowledge through systematic and objective methods of observation and experimentation. j psychologists study behaviour, which refers to any action or reaction that can be measured or observed—such as the blink of an eye, an increase in heart rate, or the unruly violence that often erupts in a mob. j psychologists study the mind, which refers to both conscious and unconscious mental states. These states cannot actually be seen, only inferred from observable behavior. Psychology: A Definition

Sociology is the scientific study of group behaviour or human social relations. j Sociologists examine the ways in social structures and institutions - family; class; community; power - and social problems - such as crime and abuse - influence society. j The field focuses on how and why people are organized in society, either as individuals or as members of associations, groups, and institutions, they look at statistics and trends Sociology: A Definition

The following should be review of Chapter 7.3 of your textbooks. Make sure you are familiar with the key concepts

In the 17 th and 18 th centuries, wheat boom and railway of 1885 opened the west to the rest of Canada, mining and wheat production flourish(primary sector) First half of 20 th century industrialized, 1 st and 2 nd world wars stimulated industrial expansion, factories(secondary sector) Today, 74% of all jobs provide services(tertiary sector) Canada’s Economic Sectors

The study of populations Since Canada experienced the baby boom( ), the mid 60’s had a large labour force thus no need for new technology This was the opposite in Japan, small labour force, thus needed technology, it eventually led the world in automotive and electronic products. North America, needed to increase technology to keep up with the Japan (even though they had a large workforce) Demography

Some say that this new cutthroat competitive economy will be controlled by a few multinational corporations While optimists say that the new economy will allow high employment and productivity. New Technology, re-engineering of industries (minimal clerical work/assembly-line workers needed) Telecommuting, a trend resulting from cell phones, faxes, and the internet. How will this affect humans? What would Psychologists, Sociologists and Anthropologists have to say about this? Canada’s New Economy

Shift in career paths Linear- receive as much education, start with entry level position and climb the ‘job ladder’ Steady-state-lifetime career ex. Doctor, professor Spiral-employee spirals up the corporate structure, laterally with various positions Transitory-pursue whatever occupation necessary to get a job ex. Personal shopper, pet walker

The future Talk of raising maximum hours per week from 48 to 60 Highly skills computer literate workers will be in demand, lower-level clerical jobs-not so much Career changes, upgrading of skills, service sector employment increases(why?),flexible working conditions, unemployment rate

Results Social Scientists have noticed a disturbing trend: The poorest fifth of Canada’s income-receiving population became poorer between 1989 and 1998, government assistance, child tax benefits and tax relief have decreased (Statistics Canada, 1998)

What would a Sociologist say about the economic trend? What would an Anthropologist say about the economic trend? What would a Psychologist say about the economic trend?