The ADP Canada monthly Happiness@Work Index sees all secondary scores decrease in December, driving workers’ happiness down. Boomers (6.9/10) continue to hold the top spot as the happiest generation for the 11th consecutive month, while British Columbia rejoins Québec (6.9/10) for the happiest regions in Canada. The National Work Happiness Score for December 2023 is 6.6/10, representing a decrease of 0.2 points from November. 

December 2023 Happiness@Work Index Highlights

  • National Work Happiness Score: 6.6/10 (-0.2) *
  • Indicator Breakdown
    • Primary Indicator: 6.8/10 (-0.2) *
    • Secondary Indicators:
      • Work-Life Balance & Flexibility: 6.7/10 (-0.3) *
      • Recognition & Support: 6.4/10 (-0.3) *
      • Compensation & Benefits: 6.1/10 (-0.2) *
      • Options for Career Advancement: 5.9/10 (-0.2) *

The December Index shows that the primary indicator of worker happiness also decreased to 6.8/10, – 0.2 points from November, with less than half (44%) of workers in Canada feeling satisfied with their current role and responsibilities. The top secondary indicator continues to be work-life balance & flexibility (6.7/10), however, it’s the lowest recorded score since January 2023. Additionally, recognition & support also record the lowest score to date since the induction of the Index.

The Index also reveals that while Boomers (6.9/10) continue to hold the top spot as the happiest generation for the 11th consecutive month, their happiness score is decreasing by 0.3 points from November. Millennials (6.5/10) recorded their lowest score to date, and Gen Zs held steady month-over-month. Regional results reveal that British Columbia rejoins Québec (6.9/10) for the top spot as the happiest region, while Ontario (6.4/10) records one of the lowest Regional Work Happiness Scores in December.

National Work Happiness Score: Generational Snapshot

  • Boomers (59+): 6.9/10 (-0.3) *
  • Gen-Z (18-26): 6.8/10 (-0.1) *
  • Millennials (27-42): 6.5/10 (-0.3) *
  • Gen-X (43-58): 6.4/10 (-0.2) *

Regional Work Happiness Score Snapshot

  • Québec: 6.9/10 (-0.1) *
  • British Columbia: 6.9/10 (NC) *
  • Atlantic Canada: 6.7/10 (-0.2) *
  • Alberta: 6.6/10 (NC) *
  • Sask/Manitoba: 6.5/10 (-0.3) *
  • Ontario: 6.4/10 (-0.3) *

Additionally, this month, the Index reveals that workers in Canada are feeling confident with work-related activities in the upcoming year, as three-quarters (75%) of workers are optimistic about taking time off, and 72 percent share a similar sentiment about having a manageable workload heading into 2024. However, workers were less optimistic (56%) about getting an increase in salary and compensation this upcoming year.