Statistics Canada (December, 2015) shows the goods producing industries as contributions to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country between September 2014 and September 2015 has decreased by 3.1% while the service producing …show more content…
Service sector employment has fewer recognized gender biases. Distinctions between classes of workers are also less obvious in the service industries.
In the goods producing industry there are the capitalists who own the means of production, the managers who operate the industry and oversee the workers, and the workers who do the physical labour and operate the machinery. Each of these roles has different pay levels and different social status. In contrast, service sector employees cover a large variety of types of work. People who work in these areas often better educated. They usually do not perform heavy manual labour or operate heavy equipment. The financial rewards for work in this sector of the economy are as vast as the job opportunities available.
As a country founded less than 150 years ago many things have changed since its beginnings. Where there were fishers in the east and small farms in Upper and Lower Canada, much of the west was at that time undeveloped. Only 60 years ago it was still possible to find nomadic first nations peoples in the arctic living their traditional lives. Religious and governmental assimilation of the natives was government policy until the end of the 20th …show more content…
Many industries have closed their doors. The post war ‘baby boomer’ population is aging and leaving the workforce. Immigrants are now welcome to fill less desirable service jobs and care for the aged. These positions usually realize lower levels of pay.
The higher level of education obtained by the fortunate children of the Boomers has allowed for higher pay jobs within the service industry, many in real estate or finance. As the statistics Canada page shows the GDP for these sectors as significant. Unfortunately the higher GDP masks the reality that there may be only a few high pay jobs. The gap between the high wage earners and the lower wage earners has grown, not decreased as a result of the changes in the work environment (Hughes, 2011).
Despite the increase in the service industry and the variety of work available the societal stigma of class and income continue to divide citizens. This gap is increasing at an alarming rate. Induction of immigrants will continue to change the way in which our country develops. Cultural diversity and awareness of first nations issues, works to improve understanding between groups. Although education levels remain the main driving force, creative approaches to employment will be required to accommodate and motivate the diverse work