Canadian workers are in a record wellbeing slump, RBC poll finds
Every dimension of wellbeing tracked by the survey moved lower year over year. Mental health scores fell seven points to 52%, while physical health dropped from 59% to 53%.
The erosion was not evenly distributed across age groups.
Workers between 18 and 34 recorded the steepest declines, with overall wellbeing down 18 points to 49% and mental health scores falling 14 points to 42%, suggesting younger employees are absorbing a disproportionate share of the financial and workplace pressure building across the labour market. Workers aged 55 to 65, a cohort that has historically scored highest on wellbeing measures, were not spared either. Overall wellbeing for this group slid eight points to 66%, while mental health dropped 11 points to 63%.
Asked what stops them from investing more in their own wellbeing, 51% of respondents pointed to the rising cost of living as the primary obstacle. That figure climbed to 60% among employees with disabilities, pointing to an uneven financial burden across the workforce.
Despite the constraints, Canadian workers were clear about where they want to make gains.
