In many ways, our world of the 21st century is not so different from the early days of the industrial revolution. Today however it is the factory worker being replaced by computerization and those who graduated with an Arts degree, once so prized by employers now find themselves relegated to low-paying and often menial employment. Our once prized public university education system is now facing the threat of privatization in Ontario. In the last 10 years, tuition fees have spiraled out of control leaving those graduating from an undergraduate program with massive debt to carry well into their mid-thirties. The gains made throughout this century in terms of workers rights, minimum wage legislation and unionization have quickly eroded.
Job security is no longer an expectation.
The downsizing 1990s has seen full time, permanent employment turn into freelance, contract, casual and part-time. We work longer hours for a lower standard of living than we had 20 years ago.