A decline in workplace satisfaction in Ontario has resulted in the province being ranked alongside Atlantic Canada as the region with the most dissatisfied workforce in the country.
ADP Canada’s Happiness at Work Index for June found that Ontario has dropped to the lowest position in the national rankings in workplace happiness to tie with Atlantic Canada for a regional score of only 6.7 out of 10. Scores in both Ontario and Atlantic Canada have dipped since May when they were 6.8 and seven respectively.
Manitoba and Saskatchewan had the highest June scores with seven out of 10 for both provinces, followed by Alberta with 6.9. British Columbia and Quebec both scored 6.8 out of 10. Quebec was the only other province to have a drop in score, falling from 6.9 the month prior.
The report described the drop in happiness for Ontario workers as “a warning sign.”
“From stalled career growth to lackluster recognition, Ontario workers are sounding the alarm on what’s not working at work,” the report says. “While other provinces are seeing a summer boost in employee sentiment thanks to perks like flexible hours and time to disconnect, Ontario’s continued slide suggests deeper issues are at play.”
The report highlights several major factors, including that slightly more than half of Ontario’s workforce say they feel trapped in their current roles with no opportunities for advancement.
The province is falling behind other regions that provide greater flexibility and balance, leading to a sense of being overlooked and underappreciated among workers in Ontario.
This occurs as other provinces experience a rise in employee morale during the summer months, attributed to benefits like flexible hours and work-life balance.
“Workers in Canada are clear—supporting workplace relationships or offering meaningful summer perks, supports well-being at work,” ADP Canada vice president of marketing Heather Haslam said in the report. “If employers align to some of these priorities, they can support environments where people feel valued and heard—ultimately encouraging a stronger employee experience.”
Boomers remain the happiest of all of the working generations, despite recording a 0.2 point decrease in happiness compared to the previous month. Boomers—those 61 and older— scored 7.3 out of 10 on the happiness index, followed by the 29 to 44-year-old Millennials at 6.8.
Gen-Z, the youngest age group, scored 6.7 to beat out the 45 to 60-year-old Gen-X group, which averaged 6.6 in satisfaction.
Overall, 47 percent of Canadian workers polled said they were happy with their current roles and responsibilities, attributing that satisfaction to work-life balance and flexible schedules.
A total of 6.8 out of 10 or workers polled said they were happy with their work-life balance and flexibility while 6.6 were satisfied with the recognition and support they receive at work. An average of 6.3 out of 10 respondents were pleased with compensation and benefits and 6.1 out of 10 were happy with career advancement options.
The Happiness at Work Index is measured monthly through a survey conducted the first week of each month. More than 1,200 randomly selected employed Canadian adults including both employees and self-employed individuals are polled.
