Nine in Ten (90%) Canadians Would Rather Not
Relocate for a Job
Technology has become a permanent and useful presence in our lives in of working Canadians. Perhaps then it's not surprising that almost nine in ten (88%) Canadians `agree' (35% strongly/52% somewhat) that `technology should help people avoid the need to relocate for work'. The same proportion of Canadians (88%) `agree' (36% strongly/53% somewhat) that `technology allows working Canadians to be a productive member of their team no matter where they are'.
Additionally, three quarters (75%) of Canadians `agree' (28% strongly/48% somewhat) that `Canadian businesses who do not allow their employees to work from home are limiting their access to the talent pool by not offering dispersed workforce options'.
Telecommuting is becoming a more common way for working Canadians to be at work. Perhaps thinking about this flexible option, most (84%) Canadians `agree' (33% strongly/51% somewhat) that they `want to work on their own terms and use technology to help them be more productive from any location'. A similar proportion (87%) `agrees' (30% strongly/58% somewhat) that `Canadians are hungry for technology that will help them get the job done from any location'.
Work by the Numbers
The majority of Canadians would rather not relocate for a job, but how do Canada's demographics compare?
- Middle aged Canadians between 35-54 (93%) are the ones who are slightly more inclined to not want to relocate, compared to 90% of those 55 and up and 86% of younger Canadians between 18-34.
- Residents of Atlantic Canada (96%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (96%) are most likely to not want to relocate for a job. This is followed by those living in Quebec (93%), British Columbia, (89%), Ontario (88%), and Alberta (84%).
- Men (90%) and women (87%) both agree that `technology allows working Canadians to be a productive member of their team no matter where they are'.
- Those between the ages of 18-34 (93%) are most likely to agree with this sentiment, followed by 88% of Canadians over 55 and 85% of those between 35-54.
Re-Location, Location, Location
- Almost all (93%) younger Canadians agree that `technology should help people avoid the need to relocate for work', compared to 88% of Canadians over 55 and 85% of those between 35-54.
- The residents of Atlantic Canada (95%) were most inclined to agree that `technology should help people avoid the need to relocate for work', followed by Saskatchewan and Manitoba (91%). There was a four way tie by British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec (87%).
- British Columbians (94%) are most likely to state that `Canadians feel that location can be a barrier from securing the best jobs' in comparison to 90% of Atlantic Canadians, 86% of Albertans, 85% of Ontarians, 78% of Quebecers and finally, 76% of residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
- Nine in ten Atlantic Canadians (91%) believe that `Canadians feel bound by geography when looking for employment', followed by residents of Alberta (88%), British Columbia (86%), Ontario (82%), Quebec (79%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (78%).
These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between October 25 and November 1, 2010, on behalf of Microsoft. For this survey, a sample of 1,046 adults from Ipsos' Canadian online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics and ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. A survey with an unweighted probability sample of this size and a 100% response rate would have an estimated margin of error of +/-3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what the results would have been had the entire population of adults in Canada been polled. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.
For more information on this news release, please contact:
Sean Simpson
Senior Research Manager
Ipsos Reid
Public Affairs
(416) 572-4474
[email protected]
About Ipsos Reid
Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.
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Ipsos is a leading global survey-based market research company, owned and managed by research professionals. Ipsos helps interpret, simulate, and anticipate the needs and responses of consumers, customers, and citizens around the world.
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