Income & Employment

Many approaches to poverty reduction are grounded in the idea that the most effective way to address poverty is to increase income through meaningful employment and decent work. Poverty can often go hand in hand with unemployment. This is especially seen for specific demographics who face barriers to employment, such as Immigrants and New Canadians, youth and young adults, persons with disabilities, lone parents, and racialized populations. However, while employment may be one strategy to address poverty in Canada, many persons living on a low-income are in fact employed. These individuals are known as Canada’s working poor. This indicates that employment may not be enough to prevent individuals from falling below the poverty line. Salary, sustainability, and number of hours of work are integral aspects to ensuring that employed individuals have financial security and meaningful work. This section explores the concepts of economic development, employment and labour, financial empowerment, income inequality, and income security.