Toronto, Ontario — A new national study suggests younger Canadian workers are more likely than older peers to choose a job for the sense of purpose it provides than its compensation.
The survey of 1,501 adults, conducted in February for First Onsite Property Restoration, found 68 percent of millennials and 65 percent of Gen Z respondents said working in an industry that helps people is important to them, compared with 61 percent overall.
“Purpose is a talent magnet and the desire to make a positive impact remains a powerful motivator in the workforce, especially among younger generations,” said Leah Pearson, senior director of human resources at First Onsite.
More than half of respondents — and nearly six in ten younger workers — said they want to work for an employer focused on sustainability.
The study also found younger Canadians are more anxious about their job security. About 43 percent of Gen Z participants said they worry that global instability, protectionism or economic nationalism could affect their jobs, compared with 35 percent of Canadians overall.
Nearly one-third of Gen Z workers said they plan to change jobs in 2025 — far higher than the 20 percent of millennials, 18 percent of Gen X and five percent of boomers who said the same.
“Wellbeing must be embedded into every aspect of the workplace, not as a perk, but as a core responsibility,” added Pearson. “That’s how we create environments where people can truly thrive.”
The survey, conducted February 19–21 by the Angus Reid Forum, has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
