the changing workforce, vulnerable workers, and implications for safety and health
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The Changing Workforce, Vulnerable Workers, and Implications for Safety and Health. Valeria Velazquez Program Coordinator, Labor Occupational Health Program CROET Conference: Protecting Vulnerable Workers June 8, 2007. Outline for Presentation. Overview of the Changing Workforce - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Changing Workforce, Vulnerable Workers, and
Implications for Safety and Health
Valeria VelazquezProgram Coordinator, Labor Occupational Health Program
CROET Conference: Protecting Vulnerable WorkersJune 8, 2007
Outline for Presentation
I. Overview of the Changing Workforce
II. Case StudiesIII. Recommendations
Global Economy
Changing Demographics
• 1950-2000 the labor force more than doubled
• Changes in who the workers are:– Older – More females – More racial and ethnic diversity
Changing Distribution of Workers by Race/Ethnicity
1980-2010*
0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
120000
140000
160000
180000
1980 1990 2000 2010
# of
wor
kers
(th
ousa
nds)
Asian & other
Hispanic
Black
White non-Hispanic
*2010 projection
More Immigrant Workers– 1 out of every 2
new workers added to the US economy since 1995 is an immigrant
– Foreign born workers make up about 14% of the workforce
– Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic group
Shift from Manufacturing to Service
5000
7000
9000
11000
13000
15000
17000
19000
21000
23000
25000
'97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06
Services
Sales
Production
Construction
“Temp Workers” No Longer Dominated by Office Workers
“Temp Workers” No Longer Dominated by Office Workers
Non Standard Work Arrangement Now almost a
Third of all Jobs
• Temporary Agency Workers 0.9%• Direct Hire Temps 2.5% • On-call and Day Laborers 1.7%• Contract Company Workers 0.6%• Independent Contractors 6.3%• Self-employed Workers 4.8%• Standard Part-time Workers 13.2%
Total: 30%
Union Membership Has Declined
Impact of Contingent Work
Health and Safety
• Contingent workers • Low wage workers• Immigrant Workers
Low Wage Workers are Disproportionately Employed in The Occupations with High Numbers of MSDs
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Cashiers
1st line supervisors, retail
Maids & housekeepers
Carpenters
Maintenance & Repair
Construction laborers
Register nurses
Stock clerks
Retail sales
Janitors
Truck drivers
Nurses aides
Laborers
150% of Poverty Level
Mean hourly salaryFor all workers
Average HourlyWage for EachOccupation
(Dollars)
Immigrant Workers
Undercounting and Reporting
• 1/3 of Poultry Workers now contingent
• Decline in Reported illness and injury rates
Examples from the Field
•Educating Workers
•Educating Employers
•Enforcement
Day Laborers
• Combine Vocational and Health and Safety Training
Domestic Workers
• Training combines US domestic worker history, less toxic chemicals, and negotiating techniques
Mujeres Unidas y Activas
Negotiation skills and contracts
Asian Pacific Environmental Network Builds Legal, Medical, Community
Coalition
AXT Workers Rally
Asian Immigrant Women Advocates
Chicago Interfaith Workers’ Rights Center
Chicago Interfaith Workers’ Rights Center
Recommendations
• How do we improve the safety and health for these workers?
• Strengthen state programs• Support workplace efforts• Promote local community action• Involve immigrant workers• Improve data collection• Take legislative action• Coordinate efforts
Thank you!