A Third of Canadians Feeling Negatively About Job Security

Two thirds think a recession is likely in the next three years

Toronto, June 5th, 2019 – In a random sampling of public opinion taken by The Forum Poll™ among 1633 Canadians 18 or older, a third (BTM2: 32%) are feeling very negatively about their current job security, with about one-fifth (17%) saying that they’re feeling very negatively about their job security right now.

About two-thirds (TOP2: 68%) say that they are feeling positively about their current job security, with about 4 in 10 (41%) saying they are feeling very positively about their job security right now.

Respondents most likely to say they’re feeling negatively (BTM2) about their job security includes those aged 55-64 (38%), or 65+ (35%), the least wealthy (54%), the least educated (41%), living in Alberta (45%), and supporting the Conservatives (37%) or NDP (39%).

Respondents most likely to say they’re feeling positively (TOP2) about their job security includes those aged 18-34 (73%), the most wealthy (81%), with a college/university (72%) or post-graduate degree (72%), living in Québec (74%), and supporting the Liberals (74%) or Greens (76%).

Two-thirds think recession is likely

Two-thirds (TOP2: 67%) say that a recession is likely within the next three years, with one-fifth (21%) saying a recession is very likely.

A third (BTM2: 33%) say a recession is not likely, but only 1 in 10 (12%) think a recession is not likely at all.

Respondents most likely to say they expect a recession is likely (TOP2) includes anyone over the age of 34: 35-44 (69%), 45-54 (68%), 55-64 (70%), 65+ (69%), earning $40,000-$60,000 (75%), the least educated (71%) or with some college/university (69%), living in Alberta (75%), and supporting the Conservatives (75%) or Greens (72%).

Respondents most likely to say they expect a recession is not likely (BTM2) includes those aged 18-34 (38%), those earning $20,000-$40,000 (36%), $60,000-$80,000 (37%), or the most wealthy (35%), with a college/university

(35%) or post-graduate degree (35%), living in Atlantic Canada (41%) or the prairies (MB/SK) (38%), and supporting the Liberals (45%).



Two-thirds say Canada has become more expensive

Two-thirds (65%) of Canadians say that, over the last three years, Canada has become more expensive for their family.

Few (2%) say Canada has become less expensive, while just under a third (29%) say that it’s become neither more, nor less, expensive.

Few (3%) aren’t sure.

Respondents most likely to say Canada has become more expensive for their family includes those aged 45-54 (72%) or 55-64 (70%), the least educated (67%) or with some college/university (69%), living in Atlantic Canada (76%) or BC (75%), and supporting the Conservatives (80%).

“A third of Canadians are feeling negatively about their job security right now,” said Dr. Lorne Bozinoff, President of Forum Research. “A feeling of job insecurity is particularly prevalent amongst the lowest income earners, with more than half saying they’re feeling negatively about their job security right now; that’s an alarming number, and is far higher than all of the other income categories by a considerable margin.”