The population of the aboriginal communities has rapidly risen over the last decade, and so has the economy. This growth has led to the rise in the supply of the workforce and the demand for social entities. Though the Aboriginals’ economic status has risen over time, they are still faced with significant financial, socio, and socio-economic challenges. As such, they include underrepresentation in the labor market, and poor living conditions (Trovato et al., 2015). The women have met the most challenging times due to their further marginalization in the business and the labor market.
Their income levels are low and this has caused a major constrict in their lives. The challenges of poverty and unemployment are still faced to date. Mainly the indigenous population of Canada can only secure low-wage jobs. The communities, therefore, are still facing the implications of low-income rates. The recent studies reveal that the employment rate is approximately 5% less than that of the non-indigenous population (Trovato et al., 2015). However, over the years the number of educational institutions and learning conditions. Out of the whole population, it is approximated that about 68% have attained a postsecondary certificate, a diploma, or degree (National Aboriginal Health Organization, 2008).
The modernization of the world has led to significant effects on each state and population. It ranges from political upgrowth to social and economic upgrowths. Modernity has caused globalization and raised the interdependence of national economies through international trades and interactions. The Aboriginals of Canada are such a group of people that the modernization process has significantly impacted. The modernization process has dramatically influenced their current economic sectors, including employment, education, housing, and income levels.
The effects of modernization on the economic state of the aboriginal people are categorized into three major divisions. They include the identical evolutionary heritage, the level of activeness of the people in the monetary market and wage economy. the final category of the impacts is the role performed by the federal government in the effort to support and administer the Aboriginal economies. They have evolved from their traditional economy to modernized status, and the extent of the impacts depends on their geographical location and urbanization levels.
Due to modernization, a more significant portion of the Aboriginal population participates in the formal labor market. This is due to their advancements in the knowledge skills required. The aboriginal people have attained higher training such as postsecondary certificates, diplomas, and degrees that have equipped them with the necessary knowledge to fit in the formal labor sector. Though, from a general view, the Aboriginals have a low employment rate compared to their no-Aboriginal counterparts, there has been a rise in the employment levels.
Unlike in the traditional economies where Aboriginal people had no opportunities in the employment sector, currently, due to the modernization process, unemployment has reduced. Now, their reemployment rate is at 65.8% and is still improving (Trovato et al., 2015). Despite the positive growth rate, the women have been disadvantaged over time, leading to their slower growth rate. Among the women, only about 13.5% can secure job opportunities, which is half of the population of women of the non-indigenous population (National Aboriginal Health Organization, 2008).
The income levels of the Aboriginal people have risen considerably. In recent periods, they earn both in monetary value and non-monetary. This is associated with their entry into the job market, especially the formal sector. Their workers, however, make less compared to the general population due to their low levels of participation in the workforce. Those not working in the urban or formal sector earn food from fishing and farming (Trovato et al., 2015). A more significant portion of the income associated with modernization comes from healthcare, retail, trade, and the construction sectors.
Traditionally, the Aboriginal people were considered to be marginalized and economically vulnerable. This is due to the dislocation and dispossession of the community’s consequent to the settler economy. The modernization period has led to critical changes in the industry. The federal government has recognized the communities and offered its support. Especially during the post-World War II period, the government maximized its help in developing social, economic, and educational services to the aboriginal people (Trovato et al., 2015).
The federal budgetary allocation during the 1990s rose rapidly. This was to modernize and civilize the aboriginal communities. The expenditures rates from the government to the aboriginal people were tripled, rising from about $1.4 to approximately $5.6 billion (Trovato et al., 2015). The Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada body was formed to address the people’s concerns. The body was to facilitate employment, income, and basic needs of the aboriginal community. The government’s peak of support was marked when it majored in allocating 70% expenditure to educational, social development, and construction of residential schools (National Aboriginal Health Organization, 2008).
Modernization has also seen the aboriginal communities undergo entrepreneurship and infrastructural development. It has allowed them to benefit from other insurance, tax benefit, and security programs. Due to the favorable government policies, the Aboriginal enterprise has dramatically improved. Contrary to the traditional economy, in the post-modernization period, self-employment has increased. The significant investment area includes business, construction, and private sectors, including farming, forestry, mining, fishing, oil, and gas (Trovato et al., 2015). The service sectors of education, healthcare, social, scientific, and technical services have also been developed. Modernization has generally led to high economic levels improved housing and education.
References
National Aboriginal Health Organization. (2008). Resource Extraction and Aboriginal Communities in Northern Canada: Cultural Considerations. Ottawa.
Trovato, F., Pedersen, A., Price, J., & Lang, C. (2015). Economic Conditions of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. In The Canadian Encyclopedia.