Summary #
This report details statistics found so Clarity Accounting stakeholders can review the potential implementation of a new scheduling policy for hybrid and part-time employees. Statistics are listed to show the quantifiable amount of the Canadian workforce employed hybrid or part-time. This document reports on whether Clarity Accounting should implement a new policy to accommodate this growing number of workers.
Introduction #
Studies found that since 2017, the Canadian workforce has grown significantly in the number of part-time and hybrid workers. Results for “children at home” or “going to school” are excluded from this report, as this report focuses on the growing number of part-time workers choosing to work part-time for either “personal preference” or “other voluntary reasons.”
Since the pandemic, which resulted in a sharp decline in employed workers, there has been a drastic increase in part-time workers for personal reasons.
These statistics are worth investigating to show that more employable workers under 40 choose to work part-time. Moreover, this report shows how organizations need to change to fit the market of those entering the workforce.
Results #
The following results are from the Government of Canada StatsCan and Trade Economics. At the time of this report, in 2018, there were 3.5 million part-time workers in Canada.
Part-time employment: Less than 30 hours in a 7-day week.
Genders: Employable male and female workers.
Figure 1.A. shows a steady rise yearly in part-time workers in the last decade. In 2020 these numbers took a steep drop because of the COVID pandemic. Since then, the number of part-time workers has risen rapidly with the mass amount of people working from home part-time. Once the numbers levelled out as industries returned to semi-normal working conditions in 2021, the number of part-time workers grew annually.
Figure 1.A. Trade Economics Canadian part-time workers in the last ten years.
In 2018, a report released by StatCan showed the statistics of part-time workers in Canada. In brief, the following indicates the results:
- 41% of part-time workers are between the ages of 25-54.
- Overall, 12% of all workers in Canada chose to work part-time for various reasons.
- 21% of part-time workers chose Personal Preference as a reason for working part-time.
Moreover, 21% of part-time workers chose to work part-time to care for their children. Surprisingly, the same percentage of these part-time workers chose personal preference, showing significant demand in the workplace. These numbers have grown since 2018.
Hybrid: Flexibility to work from home and in-office during an employee’s work schedule.
In 2020, information released by the Financial Post stated the following:
Productivity waste decreased for organizations, savings increased for workers, and mental health noticeably boosted. The Financial Post continues:
“According to the survey, working from home part-time has translated into $11,000 a year in savings for the average person as they avoid commuting and spend less on gas, transit and food.
More than half of workers said they are more productive on a hybrid schedule, and 50% said they produce better work.
Mental health is also seeing a boost, with 77% saying their stress levels are either improving or staying steady amid their new flexible schedules.”
In research released by Cisco Canada in October, 77% of Canadian employees said flexibility was a determining factor in keeping them in their jobs. A study from Microsoft Corp. conducted earlier in 2022 suggested that workers would quit if they felt their well-being wasn’t prioritized at work.
Conclusion #
Overall, this report aims to bring to the attention of crucial stakeholders at Clarity Accounting the improvements to current policy and growth in this industry of part-time and hybrid workers. Although these results show an increase in the last decade, Clarity Accounting must consider changing company policy to accommodate part-time and hybrid workers.
The growth is emphasized by individuals choosing not a specific obligation (such as children at home or going to school)—but rather a reason for personal preference.
Allowing employees to work on a part-time or hybrid schedule decreased productivity waste for the company, increased savings for the worker, and boosted mental health.
Shannon Leininger, president of Cisco Canada, said, “Hybrid is here to stay, and we all need to accept that,” she said. “If we don’t allow people to work the way they want to work … they will leave companies.” Therefore, its essential Clarity Accounting considers these results and findings when reviewing the new employee scheduling policy and implementation.
