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Negotiating precarity - employment experiences of Canadian young adults in social housing.

Bibliographic Details
Title: Negotiating precarity - employment experiences of Canadian young adults in social housing.
Authors: Jansen-van Vuuren J; School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada., Krupa T; School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada., Lysaght R; School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada., Marshall CA; School of Occupational Therapy, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada., Aguilar D; School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada., Drake F; Kingston & Frontenac Housing Corporation, Kingston, Ontario, Canada., Bobbette N; School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Source: Work (Reading, Mass.) [Work] 2026 Sep; Vol. 85 (1), pp. 158-171. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Mar 23.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: IOS Press Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 9204382 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1875-9270 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 10519815 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Work Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Publication: 1999- : Amsterdam : IOS Press
Original Publication: Reading, MA : Andover Medical Publishers, c1990-
MeSH Terms: Employment*/psychology , Employment*/standards , Public Housing*/standards , Negotiating*/methods , Negotiating*/psychology, Interviews as Topic/methods ; Humans ; Canada ; Female ; Male ; Young Adult ; Adult ; Job Security ; Qualitative Research
Abstract: BackgroundYoung adults living in social housing frequently face the double precarity of vulnerable housing and unstable employment, negatively affecting their health and well-being.ObjectiveThis study explored the experiences of Canadian young adult social housing residents to better understand their employment needs, challenges, and goals.MethodsThirteen young adults residing in social housing in a mid-sized Canadian city were interviewed using an online platform. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed based on Braun and Clark's inductive thematic analysis.ResultsAlthough participants valued the concept of work, only two were formally employed at the time of interview. Three broad narratives related to employment were identified: the 'persistently unemployed', 'single mothers', and 'youth'. Themes cutting across these narratives were developed related to work as a precarious experience and provide insight into how social housing and available supports influenced participants' lived experience of employment.ConclusionsFindings highlight the complex relationship between employment, housing, and well-being. Young adults living in social housing were not a homogenous group with respect to employment, yet the shared context in which they live contributed to shaping their employment experiences, priorities, and goals. A Capabilities lens was applied to consider what opportunities and freedoms social housing residents have or need to experience the well-being and inclusion benefits of employment and to promote individual and community flourishing.
Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
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Contributed Indexing: Keywords: environmental factors; informal employment; mental health; occupation; quality of life; unemployment
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260323 Date Completed: 20260907 Latest Revision: 20260910
Update Code: 20260910
PubMed Central ID: PMC13550730
DOI: 10.1177/10519815261432596
PMID: 41869843
Database: MEDLINE
Description
ISSN:1875-9270
DOI:10.1177/10519815261432596