Monday, October 2, 2023

Workplace Stress Takes a Toll, Especially in Healthcare

Canadian workers are stressed. That’s the takeaway from a labour force survey conducted earlier this year by Statistics Canada.

Just over 4.1 million people indicated that they experienced high or very high levels of work-related stress, representing 21.2 percent of all employed people. The most common causes of work-related stress were a heavy workload (23.7 percent), as well as balancing work and personal life (15.7 percent). Women (22.7 percent) were more likely than men (19.7 percent) to experience high or very high levels of work-related stress.

The industries with the most work-related stress are healthcare and social assistance, where 27.3 percent of workers reported high or very high levels. The rates for men and women in these fields were similar.

This follows an earlier study that showed that the COVID-19 pandemic had led to increased levels of stress among healthcare workers, caused by factors such as extended work hours, decreased vacation time, and changes in the methods of delivering care. These workers continue to carry a greater emotional load at work—21.4 percent compared to 11.7 percent on average.

The study also found workplace stress was highest for people aged 25 to 54 (almost 30 percent). Workers aged 55 to 69 reported considerably less stress (21.3 percent), while young people, aged 15 to 24, reported the least (8.3 percent).

Among those surveyed, 7.5 percent reported taking time off from work because of stress or for mental health reasons.

Most Common Contributors to Work-Related Stress

Heavy workload

Women: 25.7%

Men: 21.8%

Work-life balance

Women: 17.3%

Men: 14.3%

Emotional Load

Women: 15.4%

Men: 8.2%

Long hours

Women: 11.7%

Men: 11.8%

Pay/Remuneration

Women: 11.7%

Men: 9.9%

Lack of input

Women: 10.8%

Men: 8.5%

Work relationships

Women: 6.5%

Men: 4.9%

Lack of job security

Women: 5.8%

Men: 6.1%

Harassment/discrimination

Women: 3.7%

Men: 2.4%

Source: Statistics Canada

Workplace Stress Takes a Toll, Especially in Healthcare

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