Canada’s First Ever Black Labour Market Needs Assessment reveals that the number one reason Black businesses fail in Canada is that most white and non-Black business owners do not have Black suppliers or conduct business with Black-owned companies.

 “Black businesses are predominantly shut out of many of the country’s important financial, economic and industrial activities in Canada.”

Dr. Cleophas Justine Pierre 

CANADA’S FIRST BLACK LABOUR MARKET NEEDS ASSESSMENT

Toronto, Ontario:

Dunn, Pierre, Barnett and Company Canada Ltd., a Black research firm in Ontario, was contracted by the Afro-Canadian Business Network (ACBN) in April 2022, to conduct Canada’s first ever Rapid Black Labour Market Needs Assessment.  Having completed the study, the Report was presented for discussion at ACBN’s monthly meeting in September last year and is now available to the public.

This Rapid Assessment survey has shone a light on many of the business and workplace challenges faced by the Black community in Ontario, particularly in the areas of employment, entrepreneurship, and access to resources. Through data analysis and consultation, this first-of-its-kind report identifies key challenges and opportunities for Black businesses and workers in Ontario and Canada.

The findings of the report highlight significant disparities between Black workers and their non-Black counterparts in Ontario. For example, while Black Ontarians in the workforce have nearly identical levels of education, Black workers are disproportionately represented in low-paying jobs, underrepresented in management positions, and make 50% less than their white male counterparts in certain fields even when holding advanced degrees.  Additionally, the report noted that Black women face a double disadvantage, that of facing both racial and gender discrimination in the workplace.

The report highlights many reasons why Black businesses fail in Canada including the fact that Black businesses are rejected at eight times the rate of regular businesses and most importantly, non-Black business owners (70% of the population) do not conduct business with the Black business community, so they are predominantly shut out of many of the country’s important financial, economic and industrial activities in Canada.

The report identified among other things, the need for training of Black entrepreneurs in the areas of customer service, business management, and adherence to acceptable business standards. Recommendations included the need for increased Government monitoring and reporting of Black employment figures, advocacy groups forming coalitions to lobby for equity in hiring and promotion practices.

In an interview with Dr. Pierre, he revealed that the urgency to conduct a National Black Labour Market Needs Assessment cannot be understated. He noted that “the United Nations and the International Labour Organisation have long held the view that conducting a Labour Market Needs Assessment (LMNA) is essential in all countries as it lays the foundation for skills training, youth engagement, economic, social and community development”. Since its inception in 1944, the World Bank has funded Labour Market Assessment Surveys in over 137 countries worldwide in support of the socio-economic development of their citizens.

He went on to say that “in over 40 years, Black leaders, policy makers, universities, non-profit organisations, and community leaders in Canada have not been aware of the significance of conducting such an important study on the Black population. Without a Black LMNA or a dedicated Black Census, we cannot scientifically make predictions about our future, with regard to our workforce, education and opportunities for Black people in Canada. If nothing is done, there will be little or no change, and we will most likely be in the same situation ten years from now”.

He further explained that countries such as India, Jamaica, Japan, Ghana, and the European countries, routinely conduct Labour Market Assessments on their population. National organisations such as the Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE), the Black Caucus, the Federation of Black Canadians, the Foundation for Black Communities, and the Federal and Provincial governments are now being called upon to promote and implement a Black Labour Market Needs Assessment at the national level.

The full report is now available to the public from the company’s website at https://www.dpbglobal.com/shop/.