Fewer Canadians will commute to work after COVID-19 lockdown: survey
by CM Staff
More Canadians intend to work from home and limit driving or taking public transit
A quarter fewer canadians will commute to work after the COVID-19 lockdown lifts. PHOTO: Rates.ca
TORONTO — A new survey from insurance aggregator Rates.ca found that COVID-19 is driving a lasting shift in Canadians’ commuting routines.
Representing a 13% decline, slightly more than half (53%) of respondents say they plan to drive to work in the future, a notable change from 61% who did pre-COVID-19. When it comes to taking public transit to their jobs, the survey indicates a drop of 58% while 50% fewer will carpool.
Almost three in 10 (28%) of respondents say they will be working from home, a dramatic increase from 9% pre-pandemic. Those over the age of 35 are more inclined to go back to work in an office (52%) whereas 48% of people under the age of 35 said they will be returning to their workplaces.
“There’s no question COVID-19 is changing Canadians’ lives both in terms of where we work and how we plan to commute to work,” said Liam Lahey, editor, Rates.ca, in a statement. “Our survey highlights that the transition to working remotely will likely impact commuting patterns for the foreseeable future.”
To help Canadians as they formalize work from home arrangements, Lahey advised that they check their home or condo insurance policy and ensure that they are covered.
