Young and new workers
Workers who are in some way “new” to their work have been shown to be at greater risk of work injury. They may be new to the labour market (i.e. young workers), new to their jobs (e.g. because of short-term contract or temporary work, or job change or promotion), or new to the country (i.e. recent immigrants). IWH research tracks injury rates trends among this group, explores the factors behind the increased risk, and evaluates programs designed to protect these potentially vulnerable workers.
Featured
At Work article
Arts-based study reveals complexities of working as a nail technician
Workplace hazards have been the focus of many studies on the health and safety of nail salons and their workers. An arts-based study strived to demonstrate the complexity of nail technicians’ relationships to their work, finding both harms and joys.
Published: July 31, 2025
IWH Speaker Series
What the future of work looks like to young people with disabilities
Published: December 14, 2021
IWH in the media
Summer’s here: What kids, and their parents, should know about safety on the job
The “Keep Your Bits” videos that are part of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board’s latest campaign to promote workplace safety among young adults are meant to be funny — not because the content is light, but to get the attention of young people, says the WSIB. As business reporter Patty Winsa writes, job safety is especially important for young and new workers, who are three times more likely to be injured within their first month of employment compared to experienced workers, according to the Institute for Work and Health.
Published: The Toronto Star, July 2026
Journal article
Journal article
Cancer among adolescents and young adults contributes to reduced employment: relationship not mediated by educational attainment
Published: Journal of Cancer Survivorship, March 2026
Journal article
Journal article
Calling it like they see it? Young adults' discourses of employment and labour market inequalities
Published: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, January 2026
Journal article
Journal article
Income after cancer across gender and age among Canadian adolescents and young adults
Published: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, January 2026
Journal article
Journal article
Strategies for supporting disability-inclusive employment in the future of work
Published: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, November 2025
Journal article
Journal article
Promoting job quality and career advancement among persons with disabilities during critical career transitions: a scoping review of published evidence
Published: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, October 2025
At Work article
Arts-based study reveals complexities of working as a nail technician
Workplace hazards have been the focus of many studies on the health and safety of nail salons and their workers. But an arts-based study strived to demonstrate the complexity of nail technicians’ relationships to their work, finding both harms and joys.
Published: July 2025
Journal article
Journal article
"It's a mixture of emotions": nail technicians' visual storytelling of work and health
Published: Qualitative Research in Medicine & Healthcare, July 2025
Journal article
Journal article
Long-term dynamic financial impacts among adolescents and young adults with cancer: a longitudinal matched-cohort study
Published: Journal of Clinical Oncology, May 2025
Journal article
Journal article
Double trouble! Do workplace supports mitigate lost productivity for young workers with both severe rheumatic diseases and depressive symptoms?
Published: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, January 2025