Younger Canadians increasingly disengaged at work: study
by Canadian Manufacturing Daily Staff
Only 8 per cent of 18-29 year-old Canadian workers say they are highly engaged with their employers
MISSISSAUGA—Younger workers are lacking in engagement with their employers and are most affected by perceived pressures at work, a new GfK study has found.
The study, conducted among more than 30,000 employees in 29 countries, finds a labour market polarized between disillusioned 18-29-year-olds and their older counterparts.
Based on a national survey of 2,000 interviews conducted in Canada, our young employees have a same experience.
Although younger employees are more likely to be free from more significant responsibilities at work, a larger percentage of them are “frequently” or “nearly always” concerned about their work-life balance, pressure to work long hours and personal health.
The same pattern appears in the Canadian workforce, with only 18 per cent of 18-29 year olds highly engaged with their employer, compared to 48 per cent of employees in their 60s.
A majority (52 per cent) of young employees in Canada believe that there are career opportunities available for them in the job market. Nearly three quarters of young employees (73 per cent) are actively looking for a job or will be in the next 6 months.
It is crucial, the study suggests, for business to confront and resolve the causes of disengagement in their young workforce if they are to retain talent.
