Requiem or rebirth? Internal labour markets and labour market restructuring in the Kitchener and Sault Ste. Marie regions

Abstract

Since the 1980s, social scientists and economic geographers have stressed that ‘standard’ forms of employment and internal labour markets (ILMs) which characterized Fordism have declined and have been displaced by post‐Fordist non‐standard and contingent employment arrangements. However, some researchers are critical of the assumptions of a universal decline in ILMs and stress that although ILMs have been significantly restructured, they remain an important part of firm employment strategies. On the basis of a postal survey and interviews conducted with ninety firms and institutions in Kitchener‐Waterloo and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, in 1995–1996, I assess the role of ILMs. Although shifts towards non‐standard arrangements are evident, employers are clearly aware of the need to maintain if not develop ILM structures. Finally, I argue that geographers need to reconceptualize the relationships between ILMs and external labour markets (ELMs) as integrated phenomena. Thus firms do not use contingent or ELMs and ILMs in exclusion to each other but as part of a continuum of strategies leading to increased blurring of the ILM and ELMs.

“Generationed” space: Societal restructuring and young adults' changing residential location patterns

“…Neo-liberal governance ideals-such as the reduction in government spending on social programs, increasing reliance on the market, and a growing emphasis on individual choice-reduced the size of the welfare state (Hackworth 2007). Neo-liberalization-and post-Fordist restructuring associated with a growing service sector and increases in flexible labour such as part-time and contract work-are believed to have increased uncertainty in labour markets, reduced government involvement in housing, and polarized the earnings structures along occupational dimensions, and by immigrant status (Rutherford 2006;Walks 2009). Due to restructuring and differences in governance and economic growth, housing in central areas is generally less affordable in Vancouver than in Montreal (Walks and Maaranen 2008).…”

Generational Dimensions of Neoliberal and Post‐Fordist Restructuring: The Changing Characteristics of Young Adults and Growing Income Inequality in Montreal and Vancouver

“…Post‐Fordist and neoliberal restructuring have presented today's young adults with a transformed set of labour market institutions (McDaniel, ; Corak, ; Calvert, ). Labour market conditions today are more ‘precarious’ (Vosko, ), characterized by an increasing prevalence in outsourcing, short‐term contract work and part‐time employment, with a diminished role for organized labour and the welfare state under neoliberalism (Peck et al ., ; Rutherford, ). McDaniel () argues that the systems that helped to elevate so many among previous generations into advantageous housing and labour market positions are being dismantled and privatized.…”

Winners and Losers: Literacy and Enduring Labour Market Inequality in Historical Perspective

“…Since the 1980s, increasing numbers of Canadians have been employed as contingent workers recruited from outside individual firms (i.e., the external labour market [ELM] rather than from the internal labour market [ILM]). Before the 1980s, many companies developed strong ILMs in order to reduce turnover and promote from within (Rutherford 2006). In doing so, there was more incentive for such firms to provide internal training programs or to subsidize employees' professional development.…”

“…For low income workers with low literacy skills, such upgrading becomes even more challenging. The promotion of the 'nimble', knowledge-based economy by the federal and provincial governments has encouraged employers, including the government sector, to hire workers at all levels on an as-needed basis rather than developing a stable and experienced workforce (Rutherford 2006;Heisz and Picot 2000).…”