Work-life balance in B.C. varies by generation, gender: poll

VANOCUVER (NEWS 1130) — Overall, more British Columbians are saying they’ve achieved work-life balance, but a new poll shows satisfaction varies by generation and by gender.

According to a new Research Co. survey, 41 per cent of people in this province say they’ve found the “perfect” balance between their jobs and lifestyles. According to President Mario Canseco, that’s up from 33 per cent in 2019.

The number of employed British Columbians who feel they are doing a good job managing their jobs and their leisure time has increased over the past two years.https://t.co/vzZQgDUg9W pic.twitter.com/rTXRy8OZYB

— Mario Canseco (@mario_canseco) April 16, 2021

“While the province-wide numbers may point to an improvement for the workforce of British Columbia, some generational differences prevail,” he says.

“Only 32 per cent of those aged 55 and over are putting their careers ahead of everything else, compared to 47 per cent among those aged 35-to-54, and 50 per cent among those aged 18-to-34.”

Further, younger people are much more likely to say work has strained their personal relationships.

“They might be making this assumption that it is going to be beneficial to their career, but they are also accepting of the fact that because they are working so hard, they’re finding it more difficult to deal with family and friends,” he explains.

Women are more likely than men to report that their lifestyle is taking a backseat, according to Canseco.

“Fifty percent of women who are working saying that work is taking precedence over lifestyle, and the number is only 40 per cent for men. So we definitely see a situation here where women who are working in this province are more likely to be doing many other things, and finding it harder to have that work lifestyle balance,” he explains.