Sudbury cab driver experiences tough job market

Recent unemployment figures show Sudbury’s workforce is doing slightly better than the rest of the province, but many still say it is tough finding a job.

According to Statistics Canada, the unemployment rate in Sudbury sat at 7 per cent in June — up 0.3 per cent from in May.

The national unemployment rate is slightly higher at 7.1 per cent.

Patricia-Ann Morrison, 52, knows those numbers all too well.

She has several diplomas, including teacher’s aide, advertising and graphic design and business administration and marketing.

“I have the skills,” she said. “When I graduated, I felt I was going to get right out there and be employed.

However, for the past four years, Morrison has been driving a cab.

She said she’s been searching for a job only in the Sudbury area, as she doesn’t want to move her children. Morrison doesn’t own a vehicle, so that limits her search to jobs that can be accessed by public transit.

She eventually started driving a cab part time and worked her way up to full time hours.

“There are no [set] wages. There are no benefits. I’ve put in 7 full hours already today and my gross will be $45,” she said.

“You can never know from one day to the next what you’re going to earn which is why you need to work every day.”

Not a fair chance

Six years ago, Morrison had a mild stroke that affected mobility on her left side. Three years later, she had another stroke and now relies on a cane.

She continues to apply for administrative positions – but said she feels her disability plays a role in potential employers’ decision.

“I find that when I go into an interview, and either the receptionist and or the interviewers see me with the canes and limping — and I know they’re not supposed to — but you can see their faces turn right off,” she said.

“You know at that moment, you don’t have a fair chance for that position.”

She said she finds the experience frustrating.

“Even though they’re not supposed to discriminate with regards to disabilities, they do,” she said.

“It’s depressing. You have so much to offer and you want to go out there and do the work,” she said.

“Just to be turned away like that …. It’s very frustrating, very insulting.”

Morrison said she will continue to drive a cab until she can get a job in one of the fields she’s trained in.