1 in 3 Canadian Job Seekers Have Paused Starting a Family Due to Lack of Work/Life Balance

London, ON — A new survey released today is shedding light on one of the reasons Canada’s fertility rate has hit its lowest level in recorded history. According to a newly released Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey, one-third of employed job seekers (33%) say they have put starting a family on hold due to a lack of work/life balance. This includes 42% of Gen Z and 39% of Millennial job seekers.

Companies looking to hire top talent should take heed to the survey finding that two-thirds of employed job seekers (66%) say it’s essential that a company prioritizes work/life balance as they look to start a family (including 77% of Gen Z and 72% of Millennials).

Some examples of ways employers are responding to requests for better work/life balance are more traditional, such as hybrid work schedules, flexible start times, more paid time-off (PTO) and childcare subsidies. Some recent offerings like gradual return-to-work programs after maternity leave are a relatively new option where, after maternity leave, employees do not return full-time immediately, but instead over a set amount of time.

Failing to offer flexible arrangements or other means of achieving work/life balance can harm a company’s ability to recruit and retain candidates, ultimately affecting the bottom line. 

As with any other segment of the workforce, embracing working parents is crucial for businesses, according to Express Employment International CEO Bill Stoller. 

“It’s evident from this survey that job seekers are feeling forced to choose between their careers and home lives,” he said. “A little bit of creative flexibility can help attract and retain top talent for skills that are desperately needed.”

Survey Methodology

The Job Seeker survey was conducted online within Canada by the Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals from November 9 to 26, 2023, among 509 Canadian adults ages 18 and older.

For full survey methodology, please contact Ana@MapleLeafStrategies.com.

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About Express Employment Professionals

At Express Employment Professionals, we’re in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Our international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve across the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, employing 579,000 people globally in 2022

and more than 10 million since its inception. For more information, visit ExpressPros.com/CA.

The London Express office is located at 300 Dundas Street, Suite 200, and serves the London, Middlesex, St. Thomas, Strathroy, Stratford, Woodstock, Ingersoll, Tillsonburg, and Southwestern Ontario. Local businesses and applicants are encouraged to visit https://expresspros.com/london/ or call (519)672-7620.

About Bill Stoller 

William H. "Bill" Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment  

International. Founded in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the international staffing franchisor 

supports the Express Employment Professionals franchise and related brands. The Express franchise brand is an industry-leading, international staffing company with franchise locations in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.