Underemployment and work culture main factors leading to stress
If you've been extremely
stressed out lately, you're not
alone. According to the third annual
Sun Life Canadian Health Index,
90 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds
are currently feeling a high level of
stress. And young adults aren't the
only ones; 72 per cent of all adults
are currently feeling overwhelmed
by the current economic climate in
Canada.
A number of factors can cause stress; you may have been pulling your hair out during midterms or sobbing over a long distance relationship, but the most common sources of anxiety for all of the 3,113 people surveyed are finances and work life.
Many are unhappy in the workplace, and feel they can do better. According to the Index, 30 per cent of respondents said they are underemployed, under-utilized and unable to make full use of their skills and abilities. Underemployment is highest among young workers aged 18 to 24, as 39 per cent reported feeling under-utilized.
"These results are consistent with Canada's national unemployment rate sitting at close to 15 per cent for Canadians under 25, more than twice the Canadian average," said Louis Theriault, director of health economics at the Conference Board of Canada. "It is more difficult for young Canadians to find permanent full-time jobs that suit their skills and areas of study. Recent job creation has been dominated by part-time work, which is becoming a trend in Canada. This impacts younger workers in particular and contributes to their higher stress level."
The Index also showed that 80 per cent of Canadians believe their employers should assist in the management of stress in the workplace. Just over one-third (37 per cent) of those aged 18 to 24 who experience excessive stress say they don't have the support they need in their lives to help manage the stress.
A number of factors can cause stress; you may have been pulling your hair out during midterms or sobbing over a long distance relationship, but the most common sources of anxiety for all of the 3,113 people surveyed are finances and work life.
Many are unhappy in the workplace, and feel they can do better. According to the Index, 30 per cent of respondents said they are underemployed, under-utilized and unable to make full use of their skills and abilities. Underemployment is highest among young workers aged 18 to 24, as 39 per cent reported feeling under-utilized.
"These results are consistent with Canada's national unemployment rate sitting at close to 15 per cent for Canadians under 25, more than twice the Canadian average," said Louis Theriault, director of health economics at the Conference Board of Canada. "It is more difficult for young Canadians to find permanent full-time jobs that suit their skills and areas of study. Recent job creation has been dominated by part-time work, which is becoming a trend in Canada. This impacts younger workers in particular and contributes to their higher stress level."
The Index also showed that 80 per cent of Canadians believe their employers should assist in the management of stress in the workplace. Just over one-third (37 per cent) of those aged 18 to 24 who experience excessive stress say they don't have the support they need in their lives to help manage the stress.
