CANADA EMPLOYED

This Father’s Day, Statistics Canada Numbers Bring Good News About Men in the Workforce

With Father's Day approaching, there's good news about working-age men in Canada-nine in 10 remain engaged in the workforce, which is consistent with historical trends.

In May, the labour force participation rate for men ages 25 to 54 was 90.6 per cent, which is little changed from May 2008 when the labour force participation rate for men ages 25 to 54 was 91.5 per cent. It has been consistently in the 90 per cent range for the last 10 years.

What has changed over the last several decades are the number of stay-at-home dads. According to Statistics Canada, in 1976, stay-at-home fathers accounted for approximately 1 in 70 of all Canadian families with a stay-at-home parent. By 2015, the proportion had risen to about 1 in 10.

Bruce Hein, Express Employment Professionals franchise owner in Sarnia and Brantford, Ontario, reflects on the realities of these workforce changes, which he sees first-hand.  

"We often talk about the challenges working mothers face, but being a working dad comes with many of the same difficulties," he said. "It is just as hard for single fathers to arrange child care or transportation, especially if they are doing precarious work with an irregular schedule."

Hein also acknowledges the impacts work of all types can have on family life.

"For dads working shift work or even those managing a very demanding business or career, prioritizing quality time with family can sometimes be overlooked," he added. 

Dan Purdy, an Express franchise owner in Abbotsford, British Columbia, sees the same trend in his local market and views it as a good thing for communities.

"I'm happy to see an increase in stay-at-home fathers," he said. "Men have so much to offer their children and families, in terms of leadership, personal example, discipline, hands-on learning and building secure relationships."

Both Hein and Purdy share their dual experiences-as fathers, entrepreneurs and job market experts.

Hein says it's important to stay focused on what really matters-your family.  

"While it is important to provide for your family, you can't get that time back," he said. "When you are at work, focus on that. Allocate your time at home for your family. From personal experience, I had to juggle a busy travel routine, but made a focused effort to be a good father and husband when I was home. It can be done but it takes commitment."

Purdy reflects on the future of his own children, as a working father and jobs expert.

"I encourage my young kids to develop a passion around the STEM subjects (i.e., Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)," he said. "These workers are projected to be in short supply and will consequently demand comparatively higher salaries. The running joke in my family is: You can be anything you want when you grow up, right after you earn a four-year technical degree!"

Purdy sees a bright future for all young people, despite a fast-changing world.

"One challenge facing young people is understanding their purpose and relevance," he said. "They are fed a steady media diet of ease and the promise of artificial intelligence, automation and self-driving vehicles. But in today's reality, we are desperately seeking truck drivers, equipment operators, skilled tradespeople and general labourers."

Express Employment Professionals congratulates all dads on Father's Day.

"Whether you're an entry-level employee or a business owner, your primary motivation as a father is building a good life for your family," said Bill Stoller, the CEO of Express. "There's a lot of good economic news to go around this Father's Day, and, over the next year, we hope to see more dads enjoying higher wages or getting off the sidelines and back in the job market-so that there's even more to celebrate next Father's Day." 

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If you would like to arrange for an interview to discuss this topic, please contact Kellie Major at (613) 222-7488 or email kellie@mapleleafstrategies.com.

About Bill Stoller

William H. "Bill" Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment Professionals. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the international staffing company has more than 800 franchises in the U.S., Canada and South Africa. Since its inception, Express has put more than 6 million people to work worldwide.

About Express Employment Professionals

Express Employment Professionals puts people to work. It generated $3.4 billion in sales and employed a record 540,000 people in 2017. Its long-term goal is to put a million people to work annually. For more information, visit ExpressPros.com/CA.