The majority of employed Canadians are emotionally connected to their work, and most believe that a current or previous job has changed their life, finds a Monster Canada survey.
Fifty-nine percent of working Canadians agree with the statement “My job has a major impact on my life and how I feel.” However, 37% say “My 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.”
Read: Majority don’t make their desired salary
Many Canadians have experienced a life-changing job, and the reasons are most likely to be non-financial:
- 67% of working Canadians agree with the statement “The job I have now changed my life,” and (61%) agree with the statement “A previous job I held changed my life”;
- 86% say the job that changed their life identified new skills they possess and new things they are good at;
- 80% say their life-changing job helped them determine what is meaningful to them and what increases their sense of self-worth; and
- financial improvements (70%) and increased work/life balance (65%) trailed.
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But employers should be aware of potential flight risks: a large pool of employees haven’t yet identified a career path that they feel will lead to satisfaction at their current workplace.
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% agree with the statement “I will have to change employers in order to find the job that will change my life”;
- 48% say being paid “significantly more” than they are now would make their job life-changing;
- 20% say more flexibility or work/life balance; interestingly, there was no difference between men and women in this respect; and
- Canadians also say personal fulfillment (19%) and identifying new skills and new things they’re good at (13%) would make their job life-changing.
“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,” she adds. “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.”