A couple of interesting articles on the Canadian economy and job market.
Nov 15th 2008, 8:14 am
#31
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: A couple of interesting articles on the Canadian economy and job market.
Are you guys serious about those "help needed" signs? Those are all just survival jobs, literally. I thought the same way as you, and after a recce, but only until we arrived here and started buying food and paying the rent. Everyday things cost more, and even more if you want the same quality that you are used to. There are numerous threads here about the cost of living and I thought that the people responding there were simply those used to throw money for nothing, but now I see that the general idea of 60K per year barely covering basic needs in GTA is right. $16 per hour will be roughly 32K per year. "Help needed" will normally mean about $10 per hour, part time. Do your math.
Nov 15th 2008, 6:26 pm
#32
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 137
Re: A couple of interesting articles on the Canadian economy and job market.
The subject of this topic is about economy and job market. Judging their health from the number of temp jobs is not good. Temp jobs and lack of consumer confidence are in straightforward relation. Taking low paid jobs as a supplement income means you are losing either confidence or purchasing power, because most of those jobs are no fun. If despite of that, confidence is strong, you are going to see then the overspending that leads to the problems we are having now.
One more point: right now, many companies are offering temp positions for pre-Christmas shopping period. By January, those jobs will be all gone.
One more point: right now, many companies are offering temp positions for pre-Christmas shopping period. By January, those jobs will be all gone.
Nov 15th 2008, 7:44 pm
#33
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 298
Re: A couple of interesting articles on the Canadian economy and job market.
Are you guys serious about those "help needed" signs? Those are all just survival jobs, literally. I thought the same way as you, and after a recce, but only until we arrived here and started buying food and paying the rent. Everyday things cost more, and even more if you want the same quality that you are used to. There are numerous threads here about the cost of living and I thought that the people responding there were simply those used to throw money for nothing, but now I see that the general idea of 60K per year barely covering basic needs in GTA is right. $16 per hour will be roughly 32K per year. "Help needed" will normally mean about $10 per hour, part time. Do your math.
Too true. Here on the island there's loads of crap minimum wage jobs advertised everywhere. Very grim getting by on $10 an hour when rent averages around $1300 for a 2-3 bedroom suite. You need to earn at least $60000 or over to have some breathing room
Last edited by Spongebob; Nov 15th 2008 at 7:47 pm.
Nov 15th 2008, 7:52 pm
#34
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 298
Re: A couple of interesting articles on the Canadian economy and job market.
vancouver is one of the most expensive places to live in.
Last edited by Spongebob; Nov 15th 2008 at 8:06 pm.
Nov 15th 2008, 10:28 pm
#35
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 2,092
Re: A couple of interesting articles on the Canadian economy and job market.
The job market will vary across the country
Don't go looking for jobs where a GM, Chrysler, Ford plant is/might have been and add in Nortell too
Some industries are going down the toilet
and if Oil stays below $60 a barrel the same will start in northern Alberta
so its sit back watch and hope
Don't go looking for jobs where a GM, Chrysler, Ford plant is/might have been and add in Nortell too
Some industries are going down the toilet
and if Oil stays below $60 a barrel the same will start in northern Alberta
so its sit back watch and hope
Nov 16th 2008, 1:13 am
#36
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,782
Re: A couple of interesting articles on the Canadian economy and job market.
Let's face it. The politicians have screwed it all up. Harper only called an election this year because he knew if he left it another year, he would have no chance because of the economy.
Last edited by johnh009; Nov 16th 2008 at 1:28 am.
Nov 16th 2008, 2:19 am
#37
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 78
Re: A couple of interesting articles on the Canadian economy and job market.
I agree with previous post- lots of low skilled work available even in here in Vancouver. Average wage, what ever that is, is nowhere enough to have a reasonable lifestyle, then I suppose the same can be said in the UK. How many people that work in McD back in the UK live in a 3 bed house?
The only reason why locals have been able to pay for their houses in Vancouver is because they all have rental suits which is all untaxed income and that pays for their lifestyle. Take that away, and then the Vancouver housing market would fall by 40% and it wipe out all those boats & RV’s in the drive.
The only reason why locals have been able to pay for their houses in Vancouver is because they all have rental suits which is all untaxed income and that pays for their lifestyle. Take that away, and then the Vancouver housing market would fall by 40% and it wipe out all those boats & RV’s in the drive.
Nov 16th 2008, 2:27 am
#38
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Cotswolds, GB
Posts: 607
Re: A couple of interesting articles on the Canadian economy and job market.
The way industry is tanking, oil will be around $50 for a while to come. We will see refugees fleeing Alberta. The same for most commodities. Look at the the shares for Tek Comminco (Canada's largest mining company). They have gone from $55 to $6 in a few months. And, as you know if you are an expert on OPEC, the stock market always prices-in the futures.
Let's face it. The politicians have screwed it all up. Harper only called an election this year because he knew if he left it another year, he would have no chance because of the economy.
Let's face it. The politicians have screwed it all up. Harper only called an election this year because he knew if he left it another year, he would have no chance because of the economy.
Nov 16th 2008, 3:13 am
#39
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: A couple of interesting articles on the Canadian economy and job market.
It all boils down to your lifestyle, for some 90k isn't enough, for others 30k is just fine.
Nov 16th 2008, 3:44 am
#40
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 298
Re: A couple of interesting articles on the Canadian economy and job market.
I guess if you are frugal, live in a 1 bedroom dive, dont own a car, dont have kids, dont save, dont travel much, then hey, $10 an hour (thats 20K a year) could be a livable wage for you. For most people I would imagine it being too little. The minimum wage in the UK is more than $10 an hour, try and imagine yourself living off that back there. If you can then maybe you could do it here.
Last edited by Spongebob; Nov 16th 2008 at 3:59 am.
Nov 16th 2008, 3:51 am
#41
Binned by Muderators
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Re: A couple of interesting articles on the Canadian economy and job market.
At $6 they are an absolute steal.
A voice of reason at last. (Though, unless you can get into some sheltered housing you would need a couple earning $30k each to make a go of it in Vancouver.)
A voice of reason at last. (Though, unless you can get into some sheltered housing you would need a couple earning $30k each to make a go of it in Vancouver.)
Nov 16th 2008, 1:04 pm
#42
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 137
Re: A couple of interesting articles on the Canadian economy and job market.
I wonder what percentage of net income is normal here to spend on rent. I spoke once with a guy who is a construction worker moved to Mississauga from NB. His wife stays at home, most likely. They have two (or maybe three) kids. They rent main floor of a house not far away from apt building where we live. It would not be norm for Europe, obviously. Maybe they spend minimum on food - well, we do, but only because we have no income now. I won't survive on THAT food longer than couple of more months.
After looking at a semi-detached in that area (where the construction guy lives), we decided to rent an apartment as a temporary solution. It seems that most of inhabitants here are either temporary, like us, or people who don't give a damn about anything. This standard of living that we see is comparable to the poorest European countries. We thought first that there can be better apartment buildings somewhere, but whenever I go around - they all like that. (Condos cost more than a house.) And this is what would we afford working low paid jobs.
After looking at a semi-detached in that area (where the construction guy lives), we decided to rent an apartment as a temporary solution. It seems that most of inhabitants here are either temporary, like us, or people who don't give a damn about anything. This standard of living that we see is comparable to the poorest European countries. We thought first that there can be better apartment buildings somewhere, but whenever I go around - they all like that. (Condos cost more than a house.) And this is what would we afford working low paid jobs.
