Thursday, November 21, 2024

More Canadians Commuted to Work in 2024

New data from Statistics Canada shows that commuters are returning to the roads after pandemic dips

The number of Canadians commuting to work reached 16.5 million in May 2024. This number has been on the rise in the last two years, after the sharp decline of commuters during the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021.

Since 2023, the number of commuters has increased by 585,000 (3.7 percent). This escalation is caused partly by employment growth but is also a result of more employees returning to in-office work.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic previously led to fewer commuters on the roads, due to a drop in employment and more people working from home. In May 2021, nearly one in four workers (24.3 percent) were working from home, compared to 18.7 percent in 2024. The number of those who work from home has lessened every year since 2021, which has resulted in more commuters.

The average time it takes to commute fell significantly during and right after the pandemic, due to the lower number of commuters. This year, the days of short commutes are over, as the average commute time for regular commuters was 26.4 minutes, right on par with prepandemic commute times of 26.3 minutes.

Numerous costs are associated with commuting. Financial costs such as fuel, vehicle upkeep, or public transportation fees are the most evident. As well, commuting has been associated with negative health impacts and can lead to challenges maintaining work-life balance. –

Average Commute Times Across Canada’s Largest Census Metropolitan Areas (in minutes)

Toronto – 33.3

Oshawa – 32.6

Hamilton – 30.6

Vancouver – 30.5

Montreal – 29

Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo – 27.2

Ottawa-Gatineau – 26.1

Edmonton – 25.6

Halifax – 25.6

Calgary – 25.3

London – 23.6

Québec City – 23.2

Winnipeg – 22.9

St. Catharines-Niagara – 21.1

Victoria – 20.5

More Canadians Commuted to Work in 2024

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