Job displacement linked to technological innovation or international trade is hardly a new phenomenon, nor is the instability that seasonal or young workers routinely face in the labour market. But the impact of the so-called “fourth industrial revolution” on the nature of work is much broader. Careers are becoming a patchwork of impermanent contracts and “gigs,” which often do not come with the benefits associated with long-term employment.

What does precarious work look like in Canada today, and what is driving it? How should decision-makers address the loss of employment stability? With the help of a panel of experts, our breakfast discussion broached this key public policy issue.