High stress, lack of happiness at work pushing Canadians to look for better opportunities
A new international survey measuring work wellbeing across seven countries has found that Canada ranks the lowest, with just 20% of respondents saying they are thriving at work. This is below Germany (21%), the UK (23%), Australia (25%), France (25%), the US (26%), and the Netherlands (36%).
Work wellbeing in the Indeed report was assessed using four key indicators: happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and stress.
The results show that only 1 in 5 Canadians feel energized, satisfied, or purposeful in their jobs, while many report high stress and low happiness.
The findings are based on the Indeed Work Wellbeing Report, a commissioned survey of 1,605 Canadian adults conducted by Forrester Consulting in May–June 2025.
Rising expectations and persistent stress
Amid economic and political uncertainty, employees’ expectations for work wellbeing continue to rise. The survey found that 42% of people have higher expectations for work wellbeing than they did a year ago, with the trend most pronounced among younger generations:
- 54% of Gen Z
- 46% of Millennials
- 33% of Gen X
- 29% of Baby Boomers.
Work remains the top daily stressor for most people, cited by 50% of respondents—outpacing concerns about the economy or politics (37%), health (37%), family (32%), and romantic relationships (17%).
The impact of work on personal life is significant, finds Indeed: 88% of respondents say their happiness at work affects their mood at home.
The survey identified the top drivers of work wellbeing as:
- Being energized by your work (16%)
- Feeling like you are part of something (15%)
- An inclusive and respectful workplace (11%)
Employees with high wellbeing are 1.5 times more likely to achieve their goals at work than those with low wellbeing.
Hybrid work is the way to go for companies looking to help improve their workers’ health and overall wellness, according to a separate report.
Stress and pay drive job searches
The Indeed survey also found that high stress is a leading reason employees begin looking for new roles, second only to pay. The top reasons for seeking a new job include:
- 36%: Not being paid fairly
- 22%: Feeling stressed at work most of the time
- 19%: Not satisfied with the job
- 17%: Not feeling happy at work most of the time
- 16%: Not feeling energized in most work tasks
“This is bigger than employee experience. This is about staying competitive in the market, staying ahead in AI, and staying in business,” said Indeed Senior Talent Advisor Kyle M.K., in the report.
Nearly all job seekers (96%) want to see wellbeing data when evaluating companies, especially before applying. Candidates use a variety of sources to assess a company’s work wellbeing culture, including:
- Indeed or Glassdoor (66%)
- Talking to current or former employees (43%)
- LinkedIn (38%)
- Company website (36%)
- Social media (33%)
One in two HR professionals across the world believe there is a disconnect between investment in wellness benefits and company leaders' support for wellbeing, according to an earlier report.
