The Changing Workforce, Vulnerable Workers, and Implications for Safety and Health

1. 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

2. Outline for Presentation • Overview of the Changing Workforce • Case Studies • Recommendations

3. Global Economy

4. Changing Demographics • 1950-2000 the labor force more than doubled • Changes in who the workers are: • Older • More females • More racial and ethnic diversity

5. Changing Distribution of Workers by Race/Ethnicity 1980-2010* *2010 projection

6. 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

7. Services Sales Production Construction Shift from Manufacturing to Service

8. “Temp Workers” No Longer Dominated by Office Workers

9. “Temp Workers” No Longer Dominated by Office Workers

10. 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%

11. Union Membership Has Declined

12. Impact of Contingent Work

13. Health and Safety • Contingent workers • Low wage workers • Immigrant Workers

14. Low Wage Workers are Disproportionately Employed in The Occupations with High Numbers of MSDs Mean hourly salary For all workers 150% of Poverty Level Average Hourly Wage for Each Occupation (Dollars)

15. Immigrant Workers

16. Undercounting and Reporting • 1/3 of Poultry Workers now contingent • Decline in Reported illness and injury rates

17. Examples from the Field • Educating Workers • Educating Employers • Enforcement

18. Day Laborers • Combine Vocational and Health and Safety Training

19. Domestic Workers • Training combines US domestic worker history, less toxic chemicals, and negotiating techniques

20. Mujeres Unidas y Activas Negotiation skills and contracts

21. Asian Pacific Environmental Network Builds Legal, Medical, Community Coalition AXT Workers Rally

22. Asian Immigrant Women Advocates

26. Chicago Interfaith Workers’ Rights Center

27. Chicago Interfaith Workers’ Rights Center

28. Recommendations • How do we improve the safety and health for these workers?

29. Strengthen state programs • Support workplace efforts • Promote local community action • Involve immigrant workers • Improve data collection • Take legislative action • Coordinate efforts

30. Thank you!