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!