Are Canadian Workers Happy?

Globally, Canadians are among the happiest workers in the world. 

According to a 2012 Randstad Workmonitor study, 76% of all Canadian workers are either ‘very satisfied’ or ‘satisfied’ at work, which ranks fifth in the world. 

On a global level, Canadian companies are placing a greater emphasis on providing an equitable and happy workplace; but what actually makes a happy worker?

• ·        Job Security

According to another 2011 study, 53% of surveyed Canadians rank job security as one of the most important factors when evaluating an employer.

• ·         Work-life balance 

When looking to measure overall well-being, a well-balanced life is often one of the most weighted metrics. Given that the typical Canadian worker spends a favourably proportionate amount of time on non-work activities – on average, Canadian employees worked 36.4 hours per week in 2011, down 1.6 hours from the 1976 average of 38.0 hours per week – it is understandable why Canadians are so happy.

• ·         Earnings  

Given that the average Canadian spends 36+ hours per week at work, it is necessary that this time is well remunerated to offset this investment.

• ·         Health factors

It may not seem like a very real concern for most office workers, but many Canadians are employed in an industry where risk of injury at the workplace is a very real possibility.

• ·         Employment Rate

On a national level, the employment rate is a huge determining factor when it comes to measuring overall happiness. Since 1976, the overall employment rate has increased 4.7% despite the fact that Canada has experiences three economic recessions. 

• ·         Unemployment rate

Being unemployed can be a very difficult experience for most of us. In addition to experiencing loss of income, being unemployed can bring additional strains and hardships to other aspects of our lives.