The Canadian Labour Congress' yearly report card on the quality of life of working Canadians finds that despite a year of solid job growth and lower unemployment, 30 per cent of workers expect to lose their jobs over the next couple of years.

The "Is Your Work Working for You?" Report Card 2005 confirms that more jobs were created and unemployment was at its lowest level in years, but Canadians aren't feeling any more secure. The number who think they will lose their jobs in the next couple of years has jumped to 30 per cent. Moreover, 18 per cent of workers say that their income does not meet their basic needs. The "Is Your Work Working for You?"

Single parents are more likely to have inadequate income (36%), as were those who live alone (22%). Among age groups, it is the 35-44 year-olds (22%) that felt the least secure income-wise.

"It's a national tragedy when almost a third of workers live in fear of losing their jobs. Families need employment and financial security to plan and build a future," says Ken Georgetti, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. "In the current economy that kind of security is slipping away."

Georgetti says Canada must start creating the kind of jobs working people need - good, secure, quality jobs with family-supporting wages. Jobs that pay well, deliver benefits, offer workers a chance to plan for the future and give them a chance to exercise their citizenship are being replaced with precarious work. He points to the fact that two-thirds of all the jobs created in 2005 came in the form of temporary contracts, part-time work or self-employment: the categories of most of the precarious work with low income.

The "Is Your Work Working for You?" Report Card 2005 also found that 8.6 per cent of workers experienced racial harassment or discrimination at work. This finding comes on the heels of a report, published earlier this month, that found that the job market, that treats young workers (age 15 to 24) badly, is even harsher on young workers of colour.

"The next generation of Canadian workers will be the most diverse in our country's history. What kind of future will they be able to build if we are not giving them a chance beyond precarious work, low wages and entrenched discrimination?" asks Georgetti.

The Canadian Labour Congress, the national voice of the labour movement, represents 3 million Canadian workers. The CLC brings together Canada's national and international unions along with the provincial and territorial federations of labour and 137 district labour councils.

Report Card 2005 is available on www.working4you.ca and www.canadianlabour.ca.