Canada is not a nation of clock-punchers: employment survey

TORONTO—The majority of employed Canadians are emotionally connected to their work and most believe that a current or previous job has changed their life, according to a new survey by job search website Monster Canada.

But employers should note that a large pool of employees have not yet identified a path they feel will lead to satisfaction at their current workplace.

Monster’s survey found six in 10 working Canadians agree with the statement ‘My job has a major impact on my life and how I feel’, while just 37 per cent agreed that their job is ‘just something I do to make ends meet. I look for fulfilment in other areas of my life’.

“While it’s encouraging to see that many have found the job that changed their life, the numbers show that many others still have a desire to find better,” says Sheryl Boswell of Monster Canada. “Given how emotionally invested Canadians have told us they are in their work, finding a fulfilling job is paramount when it comes to overall happiness, and employers need to take note.”

The study also found that many Canadians have experienced a life-changing job, and the reasons are most likely to be non-financial:

• 67 per cent of working Canadians agree with the statement: “The job I have now changed my life” and 61 per cent agree with the statement “A previous job I held changed my life.”
• 86 per cent say the job that changed their life identified new skills they possess and new things they are good at.
• 80 per cent say their life-changing job helped them determine what is meaningful to them and what increased their sense of self-worth.
• 70 per cent cited financial improvements and 65 per cent indicated increased work-life balance as key

Employers: beware of the potential flight risks
Many working Canadians are still seeking more from their jobs, and among those still searching, the perception is that more money would make a significant difference:

• 39 per cent thought they will have to change employers in order to find the job that will change their life.
• 48 per cent said being paid “significantly more” than they are now would make their job life-changing.
• 20 per cent indicated more flexibility/work-life balance was required (there was no difference between men and women in this respect).
• Personal fulfillment (19 per cent) and identifying new skills and new things they’re good at (13 per cent) were indicated as factors that would make their job life-changing.

Research and choose wisely
“For employees, knowing what aspects of employment bring you joy or satisfaction should play an important role in any job search and it’s important to be honest with yourself,” added Boswell. “On the other hand, employers must also have effective talent acquisition and management strategies in place to seek out the best employees and help them hone their skills.”