Love what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life, so the saying goes. Of course, it’s more complicated than that – anything worth doing in life is going to have its ups and downs. But how happy are Canadian workers really? ADP Canada’s Happiness@Work Index for May labelled the happiness of workers nationwide at a 6.8 out of 10. However, Gen Zs were the lowest-ranked cohort at 6.7.
The index also revealed workers’ values: a respectful workplace (70%), added benefits, extended health coverage such as dental and vision (56%) and flexible work options (42%).
"Workers in Canada are increasingly seeking benefits that support their well-being both on and off the job,” Heather Haslam, ADP Canada’s vice-president of marketing, said in a statement.
"To attract and retain top talent, this month’s Index highlights the ways employers can go beyond the basics to empower their employees to thrive and perform at their best, such as providing extended health coverage or flexible work options.”
The mindset of Canadian workers
The workplace mood across Canada is a mixed bag, but one thing’s clear: Nearly half of workers (47%) say they’re genuinely satisfied with their current roles. What’s driving that sense of contentment? For many, it comes down to one crucial factor — work-life balance. Flexibility is king, and when it’s present, satisfaction tends to follow.
Generationally, the happiest group in the workforce might surprise you. Baby Boomers continue to lead the way with a satisfaction score of 7.5 out of 10, up slightly from April. Millennials and Gen X are neck and neck at 6.8, each inching up by 0.1 this month. And while Gen Z still trails the pack, even they saw a small lift in satisfaction, hinting that things might be turning a corner for the youngest generation on the job.
The numbers may be modest, but the message is growing louder: When work fits life, not the other way around, people feel better about what they do.
Regional differences in happiness
After a dip in recent months, Atlantic Canada is making a comeback. Workers in the region reported a notable jump in job satisfaction this May, climbing 0.6 points to a solid 7.0 out of 10, the highest in the country.
Meanwhile, Alberta and the Prairie provinces (Saskatchewan and Manitoba) find themselves at the other end of the spectrum, tied as the least satisfied regions with an average score of 6.7. It’s a small difference numerically, but one that hints at regional disparities in how people are experiencing work.
Elsewhere across the country, satisfaction scores saw more modest shifts:
- Québec edged up slightly to 6.9 (+0.1)
- British Columbia rose to 6.8 (+0.2)
- Ontario followed closely behind at 6.8 (+0.1)
While the numbers don’t swing dramatically, they paint a clear picture that where you work in Canada can still shape how you feel about work itself.
"As respect, transparency, and flexibility, continue to shape employee expectations, employers should strive to cultivate workplace cultures that reflect these values,” Haslam said.
“This means enabling open communication, that are not just top-down messages but integrate feedback loops, providing intentional support, and embracing the human experience at work. When benefits and policies align with these priorities, employers create a strong foundation for trust, well-being, and sustained employee engagement."
Survey methodology
The Happiness@Work Index is measured monthly through a survey fielded by Harris Poll Canada on behalf of ADP Canada Co. The survey is run in the first week of each reported month for consistency purposes and asks over 1,200 randomly selected employed Canadian adults (including both employees and self-employed individuals) who are Maru Voice Canada online panelists to rate workplace factors on a scale from 1 to 10.
Discrepancies in or between totals when compared to the data tables are due to rounding.
The results are weighted by education, age, gender and region (and in Québec, language) to match the population, according to Census data.
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
