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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1978-09-07, Page 12J By JACK RIDDELL j MPP Huron-Middlesex Trends, prospects S3 Last week, I wrote about a Canada Statistics Report on trends and prospects for enrolment, school leaveis, and the labour in Canada - the 1960s through the 1980s, which I would like to con­ tinue discussing this week. Changes in the manpower supply, both with respect to numbers and education, have far-reaching conse­ quences for the labour force and the labour market. Relevant factors are: the growth rate, age composi­ tion and educational attain­ ment; growth in managerial, professional and technical jobs compared with the number of post­ secondary leavers seeking such jobs; labour force growth and unemployment; current youth unemploy­ ment; the relationship between education and un­ employment; impact of the decreasing demand of school teachers on the labour market for university graduates; a possible qualification spiral and un­ deremployment. For the most part, the study discusses future changes in the supply of manpower. No correspon­ ding demand projections have been made. Recent and anticipated changes in the manpower supply from the school system have profound implications. The report examines education Local thefts remain high Accidents were down in Exeter slightly during the past month, but the number of thefts continued high ac­ cording to the report sub­ mitted to council by Police Chief Ted Day, Tuesday. There were nine ac­ cidents, with one injury and p™Q£ix.dainag.Q,.QL$3,ooo.. • There are 11 thefts, with total loot amounting to $9,- 144. Of that. $120 has been recovered. Other statistics were as follows: 34 warnings and six charges under the Highway Traffic Act, two charges and three other investigations under the Liquor Licence Act, nine parking tickets issued, eight bike riders cautioned, two impaired drivers, two fraud in­ vestigations and one attempted suicide. Councillor Derry Boyle asked Chief Day if the police were continuing their night­ ly practice of checking doors in the downtown area, and while the Chief suggested Boyle come to the police sta­ tion to talk about that situa­ tion, he quickly added “we do and we don’t”. “If they’re not busy they do,” Chief Day said in reference to the officers on night duty. “That’s fine,” Boyle remarked. strictly from a labour market standpoint. However, it is recognized that education has a mul­ tiplicity of purposes, only one of which is preparation fora job. The educational attain­ ment of school leavers has shifted greatly over the last decade from secondary toward post-secondary, thereby raising the overall educational level of the labour force. In the coming decade, this shift will con­ tinue, but at a slower rate. Not all post-secondary graduates are employed in managerial, professional or technical jobs, nor do all these fields require post­ secondary certification. But the growth of such oc­ cupations is a general in­ dication of employment op­ portunities for college and university graduates. For example, the 1973 Highly Qualified Manpower Survey revealed that 81% of young (under 29) employed univer­ sity graduates had jobs classified as managerial, professional or technical. The major occupation was teaching, employing 36% of young degree-holders. Between 1966 and 1975 employment in managerial, professional and technical occupations rose about 5% a year, a very high rate com­ pared with the annual 2,9% of all occupations. The rate fell to 3.5% in 1976 and 2.2% in 1977. The number of labour force entrants from college and university, however, was increasing more quickly.®- 12% a year from 1966 to 1971, dropping to around 4% in the mid­ seventies. The annual number of post-secondary school leavers more than doubled from 46,000 in 1966 to 98,000 in 1976. This discrepancy in the growth of managerial, professional and technical occupations and the number of post-secondary-educated job-seekers made it virtual­ ly impossible for all graduates in the mid and late 1970s to acquire employ­ ment similar to that ob­ tained by their counterparts in the early and mid-1960s. Traditionally, unemploy­ ment has been negatively correlated with education: the higher the education, the lower the unemployment. This holds true today for both the entire labour force and new entrants. Between 1974-77, average spring un­ employment of the total labour force was 10.1% for those with elementary education, 8.2% among those with secondary, and 2.5% for university degree­ holders. The 1977 figures on gradutes hired by the federal Public Service Com­ mission, showed that those hired were from job- oriented disciplines which provide skills in specific area. Nearly half had degrees in commerce, management or business ad­ ministration. Many were forced to accept lower- paying, less demanding jobs. During the first half of 1977, about 30% of all applicants for clerical positions, where the formal education requirement is Grade 10, held university degrees or college diplomas or certificates. The labour market posi­ tion of job-seekers with BAs deteriorates as their number increases. In 1965, the average starting salary of a BA graduate in industry was 110% of that of others in industry: this peaked in 1968 at 118%. A subsequent tur­ naround meant that by 1977 new BA graduates earned 88% of the average in­ dustrial wage. The current decline in the annual number of school leavers with secondary graduation or less will con­ tinue over the next ten years. By 1986 the number will have fallen to the 1966 level. The number of school leavers with a partial or completed post-secondary education will continue to rise, although slowly, until the early to mid-1980s. It’s difficult to speculate about college graduates. Many appear to be faring well in the labour market although saturation seems to have been reached in some areas, like nursing and social services. If many students choose college rather than university a large number of college graduates could create problems of labour market absorption in some fields. University graduates with general degrees are con­ fronted by declining demand for teachers and strong com­ petition from the large number of college and professional graduates. With an excess of college and university graduates in some areas, many may accept jobs not requiring post-secondary training. This could result in formal or informal escalation of the educational requirements for some positions - a qualification spiral. Once a level of education has encompassed a large sector of the population, its credentials are perceived to lose their value. Acquisition of such credentials may tend to become quasi- compulsory, perhaps less to acquire a benefit than to avoid being penalized. At this point, the qualifications may not be sufficient to guarantee a “good” job, but, may be essential for enter­ ing the competition for jobs. A qualification spiral results, of course, in un­ deremployment, a condition in which workers’ acquired skills and education exceed job requirements. CHECKING THE EQUIPMENT — One of the most important tasks in an ambulance service is the maintenance of the ambulance's equipment. Checking over some of the many items carried are Ron McLinchey and Jim Hoffman. Staff photo MANY ITEMS CARRIED — You'll never know it by taking a quick glance into the back of an ambulance that around 60 items are carried on-board. Everything from stretchers and a com­ plete first aid kit to battery cables are carried in the back of a Hoffman s ambulance. Have been in operation for over 40 years Ambulance service serves many people It’s nine thirty in the morning on the day before the Labour Day weekend and all’s quiet at the dispatch centre at the Hoffman Ambulance service in Dash­ wood. As the morning paper gets passed around and as the daughter of Jim and Donna Hoffman crawls around on all fours, Jim remarks that the chances of going out on some calls in the morning appear extremely remote. Ron McLtochy one of the service’s full time at­ tendants adds that in the first two weeks of August they had had the same Many from Huron eligible for crown Yuuth Day at this year’s 50th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair will have among its many features on opening day November 9, the largest number of entries ever in the 4-H Queen’s Guineas Steer Competition. A record 465 nominations from 25 countries in Ontario have been registered, 24 more than the previous . record number. As was the case last year, Lambton, Grey and South Simcoe counties lead all counties with 76, 52, and 40 entries respectively, followed closely by Mid­ dlesex with 39. The judge for this year’s event again is Andy Brown, Lethbridge, Alberta. The number of steer classes continues to grow with the addition this year of two more a Limousin-Cross and Maine-Anjou Cross. The eight-class competition now also includes Aberdeen Angus, Herefords, Shor­ thorns, Charolais-Cross, Simmental-Cross and Crossbreds and Other Breeds. In order for a breed to qualify for a class of its own, there must be a minimum of 15 head of the breed exhibited at the show. If 14 head or less are exhibited, then these steers will be shown in the Crossbred Class. The only other change this year has the Group of Three classification eliminated from each steer class, leaving two classifications within each class, the single steer and the champion and reserve steers. In keeping with the desire to keep the barn area neat and tidy, the Herdsmen’s Competition will be held for the second time. Each county exhibit is properly identified, manned by 4-H Club members and then judged for general ap­ pearance, neatness, grooming of entries, cour­ tesy of attendants and general knowledge of 4-H and the Royal. Nominated from Huron are calves owned by: Stephen Caldwell, Sherri Marshall, Sandy Marshall, Jennifer Rock, Joanne Rock, Irvin Pease, Ron Taylor, Margaret Pym, Elaine Pym, Brian Pym, Scott Consitt, Fred Hern. John Coleman, Les Con­ sitt, Adrian Rehorst, John Love, Les Falconer, Bill Gibson, David Townsend, Brian Falconer, Allan Nigh, Lyle Kinsman, Bruce Bennett, Les Lawson, Paul Johnston, Brenda Riddell, and Heather Riddell. Blue grapes freeze easy The rich flavor and color of Ontario blue grapes have not only made these grapes favorites of processors of wines, juice and preserves, but also have made them a very special treat to enjoy at home. They are great for eating out of hand and for making juice, jam, jelly and baked goods. Look for Ontario blue grapes during September and until about the first week of October. Food specialists at the Ontario Food '‘•Council, Ministry of Agriculture and Food, point out that Ontario blue grapes are special in another way, too. They are easy to freeze and can be used in place of fresh blue grapes in recipes. So when you come home with baskets or bushels of blue grapes, you don’t have to start making your favorite grape jams, pies and juice right away. Instead, you can freeze large quantities of blue grapes in a hurry, then draw on this supply as you want to make jams or desserts later in the year. Blue grapes can be con­ veniently placed in the freezer in a matter of minutes. Just wash them carefully, drain well, stem, pack in measured amounts for recipes in freezer con­ tainers, label and freeze. Blue grapes hold their shape reasonably well when defrosted and keep their intense color and flavor. Enjoy the rich flavor of Ontario blue grapes now, while the season is in full swing. Freeze some too, and enjoy good-tasting, good­ looking grape dishes in the middle of winter. What a treat! Did you know that you must ride your bicycle for 45 minutes to burn the calories contained in a simple piece of apple pie? Photo by Dopna Hoffman PRACTICE PATIENT — Somewhere underneath the strap­ ping and bandaging is news editor Tom Creech. Donna Hoffman Photo by Donna Hoffman number of calls which they would normally make in a month, with the past two weeks being very quiet. Hoffman’s Ambulance’ Service is the type of family run business that is the back­ bone of rural Ontario. Founded by father Harry forty years ago, sons Bob and Jim play an active role in the running of the service. Elder son Bob farms and is an ambulance attendant on a part-time basis while Jim is involved with ambulances twenty-four hours a day. The younger Hoffman who resides next door to the family business has been working in his present capacity since he was six­ teen. In that period of time there have been several changes in the business with the most significant of those being in 1968 with- ambulance ser­ vices coming under the jurisdiction of the ministry of health. All ambulances in the province are owned by the ministry with each ambulance service in Ontario receiving a varying flat rate for the provision of services in -their area. At present, Hoffman’s have two ambulances. According to Mrs. Harry Hoffman the ambulance service had 1,042 patient calls this past year with an average of 75 calls during the summer months and bet­ ween 50 and 60 calls per month the remainder of the year. With regards to the changing nature of the calls over the years which they • have been in operation, Mrs. Hoffman said the number of ‘drug cases has decreased dramatically in the past three years while alcohol related calls have remained constant. While the ambulance business is usually associated with the preserving of existing lives, Hoffman’s this year have helped bring two new lives into the world. Ambulance attendants are required in Ontario to take the Emergency Medical Care Attendant course at a community college before they are considered to be fully qualified. According to Jim, at­ tendants who were in the business prior to the in­ troduction of such a course were required to take courses to bring them up to the level of the above mentioned standard. There are some areas with OFF AND RUNNING — Jim Hoffman and Ron McLinchey head for their ambulance. Staff photo regards to ambulance care that the general public is not clear on, says Jim. Ambulances may not carry dead bodies unless there is a special order from the at- tending coroner and an ambulance attendant cannot pronounce a person dead at the scene of an accident. When it comes to their relationships with other ambulance services in the area, the key word is co­ operation and not com­ petition says Jim. Hoffman’s who cover an area within a 20 mile radius of Dashwood, on several oc­ casions request backup help from the ambulance ser­ vices in Zurich, Lucan,Thed­ ford and Parkhill when their two ambulances are out making calls. Hoffman’s reciprocate with the other services when their am­ bulances are out of their territory. At Hoffman’s there are three full time ambulance attendants; Jim Hoffman, McLinchey and Jim Leh­ man. Working part-time are Bob Hoffman, Rufus Turnbull, Mike Rau and Ken Gcnttner. McLinchey a native of the Parkhill area, came to Hoffman’s in 1975 after spending four years with the Ambulance service in Parkhill. Lehman who has been with Hoffman’s since 1976 comes from the community of Kenilworth, a village located between Mount Forest and Arthur. He’s been in the business for three and half years and derives a sense of satisfaction from his work. One thing that is certain about all ambulances in Ontario is the completeness of the equipment which they carry. This reporter can attest to the wide range of equipment available and thoroughness of the care which he received in a practise run. To be blunt this reporter was a wreck. My “injuries” in no order of pain were: a broken right leg, cervical malfunctions, lacerations to the forehead, breathing difficulties, a burn on the left arm, a severe eye injury, a fractured arm and to top it off, I was delirious. It seemed in no time at all that this physical wreck was transformed into something which the doctors could start working on. • If Hoffman’s, of Dashwood is any indication of the quality of ambulance care in Ontario, we have nothing to be worried about if either ourselves or a loved one requires their services some day. HOFFMAN'S ON THE SCENE — Hoffman's Ambulance service was called to the scene of a one car accident south of Exeter, Saturday in which four people were injured. Treating one of the accident victims who sustained minor injuries are (left-right) Bill and Harry Hoffman. - FOR -<< ' WANT ADS \ PHONE 235—1331 Times - Advocate J Serving South Huron, North Middlesex K & North Umbton Since 1873