Canadian Cities Ranked The Best in North America For Work-Life Balance
Publié le 24 June 2021
A new international survey has four Canadian cities ranked the best in North America for work-life balance, indicating that locations across the country have a lot to offer professionals in all types of job roles.
The US-based tech firm Kisi has released their 2021 rankings of the best cities in North America for work-life balance. In order to compile these rankings, cities were scored under a number of different criteria which are gathered under three large categories:
- Work intensity
- Society and institutions
- City livability
Canada as a nation comes across very well in the Kisi survey, with four Canadian cities being ranked in the top 15 cities in the world for work life balance. Ottawa is highest at 6th overall, followed by Vancouver ranked 10th, Calgary at 13th, and Toronto at 14th. By comparison, Germany and Australia are the only other countries with more than one city in the top 15.
This is a big improvement compared to the previous 2019 rankings, where the highest ranked city was Vancouver at 10th while Calgary did not feature at all. Of all the Canadian cities ranked the best in North America for work-life balance moved up in position, the biggest jump was Ottawa moving 5 spots from 11th to 6th place. This makes Canada’s capital the highest ranked city in North America.
By taking a closer look at the results of the Kisi survey, it is possible to see some of the trends and factors that make these Canadian cities ideal for professionals looking to maintain the right balance between their personal lives and professional career.
Work-Life Balance: What Is It?
First, a quick definition. Work-life balance is the ability for people to give adequate time, energy and effort to both their professional and personal lives. When a person has a good work-life balance, it means that they do not feel they have to make sacrifices in either their personal or professional lives for the sake of success in the other.
Work-life balance is not merely a benefit or a perk, but is an important factor in a person’s ability to maintain their physical, mental and emotional health. A loss of work-life balance can seriously impact a person’s well-being and can lead to serious instances of employee burnout.
The number of young people entering the job market who prioritize the ability to maintain a proper work-life balance is increasing every year. It is up to businesses, companies and even cities to adapt to this reality if they want to attract the most qualified professionals.
Work Intensity
When trying to maintain a proper work-life balance, one of the most relevant factors is the intensity of the work itself. Employees who feel intense pressure into working longer hours to meet deadlines and goals are less effective, more prone to stress and anxiety, and can even be at risk for serious physical health effects. Interestingly, the four Canadian cities ranked the best in North America for work-life balance all have a similar percentage of overworked residents. Ottawa, Toronto and Calgary all have an overwork population of just over 15%, while Vancouver edges ahead with 14.8% of its population feeling overworked.
This actually tracks with previous research, which showed that 70% of Canadian employees believed that they enjoyed a good work-life balance. A follow-up survey from May 2020 indicates that in the early days after the transition to remote work, 55% of employees working remotely stated that their work-life balance had improved as a result of telecommuting. After more than a year of remote working arrangements, it is clear that cases of remote work burnout are on the rise. While the percentage of people who feel overwork is small, there is absolutely room for improvement and it is an issue that business leaders, labour unions and individual employees must work together to address.
Society and Institutions
As much as the pandemic has forced people to remain largely separate for quite some time, it also has highlighted how much people rely on one another, the community and the larger societies around them. The Canadian cities ranked the best in North America for work-life balance also rank high for institutions including healthcare, access to mental health support and COVID-support.
Companies are realizing the importance of offering strong health benefits that will enable them to focus on their overall well-being, and these resources being available in these cities plays a role in work-life balance. While the Canadian healthcare system is not perfect, it does lay an important foundation of support for many people.
City Livability
City livability can play a huge part in a resident’s ability to maintain a proper work-life balance. This means the resources, facilities and amenities in a city that people can utilize. Canadian cities are considered to be safe overall, with an emphasis on culture, recreation and opportunities for health and growth.
For people who enjoy getting out into nature, Canadian cities have plenty to offer. For example, Ottawa has a score of 99.6 for outdoor space, only bested in the top 15 by Oslo, Norway. Even Toronto, one of the four largest mega cities in North America, has an outdoor space score of 87.5, higher than other top 5 cities. All this outdoor space also means that these Canada cities also have good amounts of clean air and sunshine, getting the accompanying health benefits. After being able to skate on the Rideau Canal, sail around Toronto Islands or walk through Stanley Park after finishing up at the office, you’ll understand why the Canadian cities ranked the best in North America for work-life balance.
The one aspect of city livability that ranks slightly lower is affordability. Even though the average rent actually decreased as a result of the pandemic, Toronto and Vancouver, ranked 10th and 14th, have some of the highest average housing costs in the world. It is possible to find housing for lower rates in these cities, but normally with increased commute time and/or drastically reduced living space, which can impact a person’s ability to maintain their work-life balance.
The results from the 2021 Kisi survey feature four Canadian cities ranked the best in North America for work-life balance. It is a challenge for professionals to balance career goals and personal lives, but living in a city that supports a proper work-life balance can help tremendously. Hopefully employers and individual employees can use this information to work together and create an improved work environment for everyone.
