Appendix B – survey results
OWRAC survey on the future of work
Ipsos conducted a survey of Ontario residents on behalf of the committee on the future of work. See the methodology section of this report for details on sampling and methodology. The results below do not include demographic questions.
1. To what extent to you agree or disagree with the following statements about yourself?
| Responses | Total Agree | Total Disagree |
|---|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) | (n=2003) |
| I am confident that I have the education or skills needed to have a job that I want where I live. | 73% | 27% |
| I am confident that I will be able to find and maintain a job that I am satisfied with where I live. | 68% | 32% |
| I know I can get training or professional development opportunities to prepare me for the economy of the future. | 66% | 34% |
| I have the technological and computer skills needed to operate my own business. | 59% | 41% |
| The COVID-19 pandemic has made me reconsider the type of job I want to do in the future. | 44% | 56% |
| If I could work remotely, I’m likely to move somewhere else from where I am living today. | 43% | 57% |
| I am interested in training or business support to start a small business. | 37% | 63% |
| I have found it hard to keep up with bills and payments because of the COVID-19 pandemic. | 35% | 65% |
| I am worried about my job security because of the COVID-19 pandemic. | 33% | 67% |
| I am worried about my job security because of changing technology. | 30% | 70% |
2. To what extend do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
| Responses | Total Agree | Total Disagree |
|---|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) | (n=2003) |
| Ontario’s community colleges do a good job of preparing young people for jobs in Ontario. | 74% | 26% |
| Ontario should make it as easy as possible for skilled immigrants to move here from other countries. | 65% | 35% |
| Young people are right to expect that they will find a good paying and secure job in Ontario. | 57% | 43% |
| Without too much difficulty a person can find an apprenticeship or training for a skilled trade in Ontario. | 57% | 43% |
| Ontario’s universities do a good job of preparing young people for jobs in Ontario. | 56% | 44% |
| Ontario has the right policies to ensure skilled immigrants can integrate into the workforce effectively. | 53% | 47% |
| The current rules for work in Ontario do a good job of balancing the interests of both workers and employers. | 51% | 49% |
| Ontario’s government has policies to help employers prepare for technological changes that could threaten or create jobs. | 48% | 52% |
| We have the right rules in place in Ontario to make sure workers can have a good work life balance. | 47% | 53% |
3. To what extend do you agree or disagree with the following about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic?
| Responses | Total Agree | Total Disagree |
|---|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) | (n=2003) |
| People who work from home should have the right to disconnect from their employer at the end of each working day. | 95% | 5% |
| Ontario should ensure that remote workers have the same rules and regulations as people who work in a workplace. | 90% | 10% |
| The workplace has changed permanently due to COVID-19 and Ontario needs to update employment regulations. | 89% | 11% |
6A. Which best describes how you were working just before the pandemic started early last year?
| Responses | Total |
|---|---|
| Base: All Respondents excluding those who retired | (n=1406) |
| I mostly or always worked in an office away from my home | 43% |
| I mostly or always worked away from my home, not in an office | 24% |
| I mostly or always worked from my own home | 9% |
| Sometimes I worked at home and sometimes away from home | 6% |
| I was not working just before the pandemic | 18% |
6B. Which best describes how you are working now?
| Responses | Total |
|---|---|
| Base: All Respondents exclude those who retired | (n=1181) |
| I mostly or always work in an office away from my home | 27% |
| I mostly or always work away from my home, but not in an office | 27% |
| I mostly or always work from my own home | 39% |
| Sometimes I work at home and sometimes away from my home | 7% |
6C. And in which of these ways would you prefer to work once the pandemic is over?
| Responses | Total |
|---|---|
| Base: All Respondents excluding those who retired | (n=1181) |
| I would prefer to work completely from home | 29% |
| I would prefer to work completely away from home | 21% |
| I would prefer to work from home more than I used to do | 19% |
| I would prefer to work from home about as much I used to do | 8% |
| I would prefer to work from home less than I used to do | 3% |
| Other | 1% |
| Don’t know | 3% |
| Not applicable (the nature of my job means I don’t have a choice where I have to work) | 16% |
4. When you think about your dream job or career (either looking ahead if you have most of your working life yet to come or looking backward if you are finished or almost finished working) which of the following do you value the most? Use a scale from 1 to 7 where 1 means ‘Do Not Value At All’ and 7 means ‘Value a Great Deal’.
| Responses | Total Value | Neutral | Total Do Not Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base: All respondents excluding those who retired | (n=1406) | (n=1406) | (n=1406) |
| Knowing that I have a stable pay cheque | 92% | 5% | 3% |
| Having good health and other support benefits | 90% | 6% | 4% |
| Having interesting work to do | 88% | 7% | 5% |
| Flexibility in my workdays/hours | 84% | 11% | 6% |
| Knowing that I will have a pension when I retire | 84% | 9% | 7% |
| Being in charge of my schedule | 81% | 13% | 6% |
| Minimizing my personal risk | 79% | 14% | 7% |
| Getting to do a wide variety of different activities | 76% | 15% | 8% |
| Ability to work from home | 63% | 16% | 21% |
| Working for a big and stable organization | 62% | 20% | 18% |
| Ability to work from anywhere in the world | 60% | 16% | 23% |
| Being my own boss | 57% | 21% | 22% |
7A. To what extent are you able to learn and develop skills needed for the jobs of the future through your current employer?
| Responses | Total |
|---|---|
| Base: Those who are working | (n=1062) |
| Top 2 Box (Net) | 68% |
| Very much (4) | 25% |
| Somewhat (3) | 44% |
| Bottom 2 Box (Net) | 32% |
| Very little (2) | 21% |
| Not at all (1) | 10% |
| Mean | 2.8 |
Assessment of Current Reputation, Responsibility and Priorities
Thinking of all the various issues and priorities that the provincial government should focus on moving forward in the recovery from the pandemic, what priority do you think each of the following issues should have? Use a scale from 1 to 7 where 1 means ‘a very low priority’ and 7 means ‘a very high priority?’
| Responses | Total High Priority | Neutral | Total Low Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) | (n=2003) | (n=2003) |
| Improving the long-term care system for seniors in Ontario | 92% | 5% | 4% |
| Improving the health care system in Ontario | 91% | 6% | 3% |
| Improving the education system in Ontario | 88% | 8% | 4% |
| Ensuring adequate and affordable housing in Ontario | 87% | 8% | 5% |
| Ensuring that Ontario has enough highly skilled workers to meet the requirements of employers | 86% | 9% | 5% |
| Ensuring that workers in Ontario enjoy some of the best benefits in the world | 86% | 10% | 5% |
| Ensuring that Ontario is best place to work in North America | 82% | 13% | 6% |
| For employers, ensuring that Ontario is one of the best places in North America to find workers | 82% | 12% | 5% |
| Ensuring that Ontario is the best place in the world to operate a business | 80% | 14% | 6% |
| Ensuring that Ontario has the most talented workers in the world | 75% | 16% | 9% |
8A. And, thinking of all the various issues and priorities that the provincial government should focus on moving forward in the recovery from the pandemic, what priority do you think each of the following issues should have? Use a scale from 1 to 7 where 1 means ‘a very low priority’ and 7 means ‘a very high priority.
| Responses | Total High Priority | Neutral | Total Low Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) | (n=2003) | (n=2003) |
| Getting the economy back on track and more people working in Ontario | 89% | 8% | 3% |
| Training workers to find good paying jobs that are in demand by employers in Ontario | 88% | 8% | 4% |
| Dealing with poverty and social inequality in Ontario | 82% | 10% | 7% |
| Dealing with crime and violence in Ontario | 82% | 11% | 8% |
| Dealing with social issues like racism and discrimination in Ontario | 76% | 10% | 14% |
| Dealing with government deficits/debt in Ontario | 74% | 14% | 12% |
| Fighting climate change in Ontario | 74% | 12% | 14% |
| Lowering taxes in Ontario | 73% | 13% | 14% |
| Increasing the number of childcare spaces in Ontario | 73% | 15% | 12% |
6. To what extent would you describe Ontario today regarding the following statements? Use a scale from 1 to 7 where 1 means ‘does not describe at all’ and 7 means ‘describes completely’.
| Responses | Total High Priority | Neutral | Total Low Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) | (n=2003) | (n=2003) |
| For employers, Ontario is one of the best places in North America to find workers | 54% | 30% | 17% |
| Workers in Ontario enjoy some of the best benefits in the world | 52% | 26% | 22% |
| Ontario has enough highly skilled workers to meet the requirements of employers | 51% | 28% | 22% |
| Ontario has the most talented workers in the world | 49% | 31% | 20% |
| Ontario is best place to work in North America | 49% | 28% | 22% |
| Ontario is the best place in the world to operate a business | 44% | 32% | 23% |
7. How much responsibility do you think each of the following organizations should have to ensure that the following are true? Use a scale from 1 to 7 where 1 means ‘no responsibility at all’ and 7 means ‘a great deal of responsibility’.
| The Federal Government | Total Responsible | Neutral | Total Not Responsible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) | (n=2003) | (n=2003) |
| Ensuring that Ontario has enough highly skilled workers to meet the requirements of employers | 73% | 17% | 11% |
| Ensuring that workers in Ontario enjoy some of the best benefits in the world | 72% | 17% | 11% |
| For employers, ensuring that Ontario is one of the best places in North America to find workers | 70% | 19% | 11% |
| Ensuring that Ontario is the best place in the world to operate a business | 69% | 19% | 12% |
| Ensuring that Ontario is best place to work in North America | 68% | 19% | 12% |
| Ensuring that Ontario has the most talented workers in the world | 67% | 19% | 14% |
| The Provincial Government | Total Responsible | Neutral | Total Not Responsible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) | (n=2003) | (n=2003) |
| Ensuring that workers in Ontario enjoy some of the best benefits in the world | 82% | 12% | 6% |
| Ensuring that Ontario is best place to work in North America | 81% | 13% | 6% |
| Ensuring that Ontario has enough highly skilled workers to meet the requirements of employers | 81% | 12% | 6% |
| Ensuring that Ontario is the best place in the world to operate a business | 81% | 14% | 5% |
| For employers, ensuring that Ontario is one of the best places in North America to find workers | 81% | 13% | 6% |
| Ensuring that Ontario has the most talented workers in the world | 78% | 15% | 8% |
| Local or Municipal Government | Total Responsible | Neutral | Total Not Responsible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) | (n=2003) | (n=2003) |
| Ensuring that Ontario is the best place in the world to operate a business | 64% | 22% | 14% |
| Ensuring that Ontario has enough highly skilled workers to meet the requirements of employers | 63% | 20% | 17% |
| Ensuring that Ontario is best place to work in North America | 62% | 23% | 15% |
| For employers, ensuring that Ontario is one of the best places in North America to find workers | 62% | 21% | 17% |
| Ensuring that workers in Ontario enjoy some of the best benefits in the world | 62% | 21% | 17% |
| Ensuring that Ontario has the most talented workers in the world | 57% | 23% | 19% |
| Business or the Private Sector | Total Responsible | Neutral | Total Not Responsible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) | (n=2003) | (n=2003) |
| Ensuring that workers in Ontario enjoy some of the best benefits in the world | 80% | 12% | 8% |
| Ensuring that Ontario is best place to work in North America | 76% | 15% | 9% |
| Ensuring that Ontario is the best place in the world to operate a business | 72% | 18% | 10% |
| For employers, ensuring that Ontario is one of the best places in North America to find workers | 72% | 17% | 11% |
| Ensuring that Ontario has the most talented workers in the world | 69% | 19% | 12% |
| Ensuring that Ontario has enough highly skilled workers to meet the requirements of employers | 69% | 19% | 12% |
| Labour Unions | Total Responsible | Neutral | Total Not Responsible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) | (n=2003) | (n=2003) |
| Ensuring that workers in Ontario enjoy some of the best benefits in the world | 74% | 16% | 10% |
| Ensuring that Ontario is best place to work in North America | 67% | 19% | 14% |
| Ensuring that Ontario has enough highly skilled workers to meet the requirements of employers | 66% | 18% | 16% |
| For employers, ensuring that Ontario is one of the best places in North America to find workers | 64% | 20% | 16% |
| Ensuring that Ontario has the most talented workers in the world | 62% | 20% | 19% |
| Ensuring that Ontario is the best place in the world to operate a business | 62% | 21% | 17% |
Making Ontario the top destination with a world-class workforce and talent supply.
How important are each of the following to ensure that Ontario is the best place to work? Use a scale from 1 to 7 where 1 means ‘not at all important’ and 7 means ‘extremely important’.
| Responses | Total Important | Neutral | Total Not Important |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) | (n=2003) | (n=2003) |
| A high-quality health care system | 92% | 6% | 2% |
| A high-quality education system | 89% | 8% | 3% |
| Incentives for life-long training and skills upgrading for workers | 86% | 10% | 4% |
| Affordable broadband high-speed Internet access for all of Ontario, including rural areas | 85% | 11% | 5% |
| Affordable housing | 84% | 9% | 7% |
| Higher wages for people | 83% | 12% | 4% |
| Has an innovative economy | 83% | 13% | 4% |
| A convenient and affordable public transit system | 82% | 11% | 7% |
| Ensuring gender pay equity | 82% | 11% | 7% |
| Ensuring diversity and inclusion in the workplace | 77% | 13% | 10% |
| Affordable childcare | 75% | 14% | 11% |
| Has low personal income taxes | 74% | 16% | 10% |
| Is welcoming to immigrants from other regions and countries | 68% | 16% | 16% |
9. What, if anything else, do you feel is important to ensure that Ontario is the best place in the world to work?
| Responses | Total |
|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) |
| Higher wages for people | 9% |
| Benefits/ incentives (insurance, paid sick leave, pension, etc.) | 7% |
| Work-life balance/ flexibility | 4% |
| Affordable housing | 4% |
| Better working conditions/ workers’ rights/ policies/ regulations | 4% |
| More jobs/ employment | 4% |
| Lower taxes (personal & corporate) | 4% |
| Equity/ equality/ fair treatment | 3% |
| Affordable cost of living | 3% |
| Incentives for life-long training and skills upgrading for workers | 3% |
| A high-quality health care system | 3% |
| Better government (honest, not corrupt, legislation, fiscal management, etc.) | 3% |
| Safe and sustainable communities for people to live in | 3% |
| Ensuring pay equity | 2% |
| Better treatment to employees/ worker support/ appreciation | 2% |
| Ensuring diversity and inclusion in the workplace | 2% |
| 4 day working week/ shorter work week | 2% |
| Lesser regulations/ bureaucracy/ red tape | 2% |
| Safe workplace | 2% |
| Affordable childcare | 1% |
| Job security/ stability | 1% |
| Has an innovative economy | 1% |
| Affordable/ free education | 1% |
| More incentives to attract businesses to the province | 1% |
| Prioritize/ employ Canadians/ locals first | 1% |
| A high-quality education system | 1% |
| Reliable/ convenient public transit system | 1% |
| Access to good childcare | 1% |
| Access to high-quality/ more housing | 1% |
| Income supplement/ financial assistance/ social services | 1% |
| Better infrastructures/ public services | 1% |
| Is welcoming to immigrants from other regions and countries | 1% |
| Get rid of Doug Ford/ current government | 1% |
| Have good/ hard working/ skilled workers | 1% |
| Eliminate/ improve unions | 1% |
| Affordable broadband high-speed Internet access for all of Ontario, including rural areas | 1% |
| Addressing climate change/ having healthy environment | 1% |
| Support small businesses | <1% |
| Other affordability mentions | <1% |
| Acknowledge foreign training/ credentials/ experience of immigrants | <1% |
| Hire people based on their skills, not on ethnicity | <1% |
| Affordable public transit system | <1% |
| Other | 7% |
| Nothing | 16% |
| Don’t know | 17% |
13a. When it comes to ensuring that Ontarians have the technical skills needed for today’s economy, which 1 of the following 2 options do you think we need more?
| Responses | Total |
|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) |
| More training provided to workers by business | 61% |
| More training for workers provided by government | 39% |
13b. When it comes to ensuring that Ontarians have the technical skills needed for today’s economy, which 1 of the following 2 options do you think we need more?
| Responses | Total |
|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) |
| Stronger labour supports and employee benefits for all workers | 80% |
| The current labour supports, and benefits are sufficient | 20% |
14. How important are each of the following to ensure that Ontario has the most talented workers in the world? Use a scale from 1 to 7 where 1 means ‘not at all important’ and 7 means ‘extremely important.’
| Responses | Total Important | Neutral | Total Not Important |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) | (n=2003) | (n=2003) |
| Ensuring that Ontarians have access to training and education programs to ensure that they are ready for the future economy. | 88% | 9% | 3% |
| Ontario should have a registered training program so people can get a tax break as they invest in their own training throughout their lives. | 85% | 10% | 5% |
| Ontario should invest more in retraining programs for current workers. | 83% | 13% | 5% |
| Ontario should invest more in elementary and high-school education. | 81% | 12% | 6% |
| The Ontario government should develop an online platform so people can match their expertise with employers who need those talents. | 80% | 14% | 7% |
| People who work for multiple employers at the same time should have the same rights and benefits as people who work for only one company. | 78% | 13% | 9% |
| Ontario should invest more in colleges and universities. | 76% | 14% | 9% |
| Personal income taxes should be lowered. | 74% | 14% | 13% |
| Ontario should financially support people who want to take time off to upgrade their skills to get a better job. | 72% | 16% | 13% |
| Ontario should bring in more new immigrants with specific skills and advanced education backgrounds that are in demand from employers. | 57% | 18% | 25% |
15. What, if anything else, do you feel is important to ensuring that Ontario has the most talented workers in the world?
| Responses | Total |
|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) |
| Ensuring that Ontarians have access to training and education programs to ensure that they are ready for the future economy | 17% |
| Better wages/ pay equality | 6% |
| Better benefits/ incentives | 4% |
| Affordable education/ training | 3% |
| Encourage/ value trades education/ skills | 2% |
| Paid training/ apprenticeships | 2% |
| Lower taxes/ tax breaks | 2% |
| Jobs/ opportunities | 2% |
| Free education/ training | 2% |
| Bring in more new immigrants with specific skills and advanced education | 2% |
| Get rid of current government/ have a better government/ less bureaucracy | 2% |
| Other education/ training mentions | 1% |
| Affordable housing | 1% |
| Affordable cost of living | 1% |
| Ontario should invest more in post-secondary education (colleges, universities) | 1% |
| Ontario should invest more in elementary and high-school education | 1% |
| Other affordability/ economy mentions | 1% |
| Ontario should financially support people who want to take time off to upgrade their skills to get a better job | 1% |
| Job security | 1% |
| Diversity/ inclusion | 1% |
| Education/ training for Canadian citizens before immigrants | 1% |
| Better work life balance (more vacation, flexible schedule, etc.) | 1% |
| Prioritize/ employ locals/ Canadian first | 1% |
| Hire workers based on skills/ qualifications | 1% |
| Support/ incentives for businesses/ attract more businesses | 1% |
| Better workers right/ protection | 1% |
| Better treatment/ support for employees | 1% |
| Equality/ fair treatment | 1% |
| Other employment/ workplace mentions | 1% |
| Ontario should invest more in retraining programs for current workers | 1% |
| Recognize education/ training/ experience from other countries | 1% |
| Stop immigration/ bringing in people from other countries | 1% |
| Better support (financial, social, etc.) | 1% |
| High quality healthcare system | 1% |
| Other services/ programs mentions | 1% |
| Employers should support/ invest on workers training courses | 1% |
| Make it a safe place to live and work | 1% |
| Improve/ remove unions | <1% |
| Other immigration mentions | <1% |
| Better immigration policies/ support | <1% |
| Government and businesses should work together | <1% |
| Good childcare system | <1% |
| Other | 6% |
| Nothing | 19% |
| Don’t know | 23% |
Ensuring that Ontario remains the best place in North America to recruit, retain and reward workers
16. How important are each of the following to ensure that Ontario is the best place in the world for employers to recruit and retain workers? Use a scale from 1 to 7 where 1 means ‘not at all important’ and 7 means ‘extremely important’.
| Responses | Total Important | Neutral | Total Not Important |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) | (n=2003) | (n=2003) |
| Ontario should change the way work is regulated to address the increase in remote and technology-based work | 71% | 20% | 8% |
| Small business taxes should be lowered | 70% | 18% | 12% |
| Ontario should guarantee a certain level of income for all individuals | 68% | 14% | 17% |
| Ontario should provide financial subsidies to small businesses to hire workers | 67% | 18% | 15% |
| Ontario should provide financial subsidies to large businesses to hire workers | 37% | 25% | 38% |
| Corporate taxes should be lowered | 34% | 20% | 46% |
| Ontario should not increase the minimum wage | 32% | 14% | 53% |
17. What, if anything else, do you feel is important to ensure that Ontario is the best place in the world for employers to recruit and retain workers?
| Responses | Total |
|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) |
| Better (living) wage/ pay | 8% |
| Better benefits/ incentives (unspecified) | 8% |
| Better education/ training | 8% |
| Ontario should increase the minimum wage | 3% |
| Lower personal/ income taxes | 3% |
| Equality/ fair treatment | 3% |
| More jobs/ opportunities | 2% |
| Pay equity/ fair wages | 2% |
| Hire qualified/ skilled workers | 2% |
| Other employment/workplace mentions | 2% |
| Affordable cost of living | 2% |
| Affordable housing | 2% |
| Ontario should guarantee a certain level of income for all | 1% |
| Good working conditions/ workers’ rights/ better treatment | 1% |
| Allow foreign trained professionals to do their work here | 1% |
| Get rid of labour unions | 1% |
| Paid sick days/ time off | 1% |
| Good work life balance/ flexibility | 1% |
| Better/flexible working hours | 1% |
| Better health benefits | 1% |
| Priority for Canadian workers/students | 1% |
| Higher corporate taxes | 1% |
| More childcare options | 1% |
| Ontario should provide financial subsidies to small businesses to hire workers | 1% |
| Better healthcare | 1% |
| Affordable education/ training | 1% |
| Paid training/ apprenticeships | 1% |
| Job security/ stability | 1% |
| Change of government | 1% |
| Better rules/regulations | 1% |
| Less government involvement/ red tape/ bureaucracy | 1% |
| Crime control/ safer community | 1% |
| Corporate/ business taxes should be lowered | <1% |
| More support (financial assistance, social services, etc.) | <1% |
| Other services/programs | <1% |
| Other tax mentions | <1% |
| Diversity and inclusion | <1% |
| Adequate housing | <1% |
| Other affordability mentions | <1% |
| Access to healthcare system | <1% |
| Offer pension | <1% |
| Better infrastructures/ public services | <1% |
| Other education/training mentions | <1% |
| Other | 8% |
| Nothing | 16% |
| Don’t know | 23% |
Ensuring Ontario’s technology platform workers have flexibility, control and security in the work they do
Awareness of technology worker concept
18. How knowledgeable are you with the following types of jobs?
| Responses | Total Knowledgeable | Total Not Knowledgeable |
|---|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) | (n=2003) |
| Tech worker or technology platform worker | 45% | 55% |
| ‘Gig’ Worker | 37% | 63% |
| Anywhere jobs | 39% | 61% |
19. As you may know, a Tech Worker or Technology Platform Worker is where technology has allowed individual workers to perform one- off tasks for consumers or companies who need those services.
Some examples of this trend include drivers for ride-hailing services like Uber or Lyft; people who perform deliveries through services like Skip the Dishes or Amazon; or people who perform tasks through services like TaskRabbit.
These workers typically do not follow a set schedule, get paid as they pick up assignments from customers instead of receiving an hourly wage or salary. How familiar are you with this type of employment?
| Responses | Total |
|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) |
| Total familiar | 57% |
| Very familiar (4) | 13% |
| Somewhat familiar (3) | 44% |
| Total unfamiliar | 43% |
| Not very familiar (2) | 29% |
| Not at all familiar (1) | 14% |
20. As you may know, a ‘Gig’ Worker is a person who works temporary jobs typically in the service sector as an independent contractor or freelancer. How familiar are you with this type of employment?
| Responses | Total |
|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) |
| Total familiar | 55% |
| Very familiar (4) | 14% |
| Somewhat familiar (3) | 42% |
| Total unfamiliar | 45% |
| Not very familiar (2) | 28% |
| Not at all familiar (1) | 17% |
21. Would you consider yourself currently employed in any of the following job categories?
| Responses | Total |
|---|---|
| Base: Currently Employed | (n=1062) |
| Tech or Technology Worker | 17% |
| Gig Worker | 16% |
22. To what extend do you agree or disagree with the following about your job as a technology or ‘gig’ worker?
| Responses | Total Agree | Total Disagree |
|---|---|---|
| Base: Coded Yes at Q21 | (n=274) | (n=274) |
| I have flexibility to work only when I want | 69% | 31% |
| I am satisfied with my job | 76% | 24% |
| I have job security | 57% | 43% |
| I feel that I am protected by Ontario’s employment laws | 52% | 48% |
| I make enough money to support a reasonable lifestyle | 58% | 42% |
23. Based on what you know about Tech Workers or Technology Platform Workers, to what extent do you agree or disagree with the following about these types of jobs?
| Responses | Total Agree | Total Disagree |
|---|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) | (n=2003) |
| Should be covered under the same labour laws and regulations as full-time workers. | 75% | 17% |
| Are great for people who want a flexible schedule. | 79% | 13% |
| Let companies take advantage of workers. | 51% | 34% |
| Are a good option for older people who don’t want to work full-time anymore. | 71% | 19% |
| Place too much of a financial burden on workers. | 48% | 33% |
| I would pay more for products or services provided by technology or ‘gig’ workers to ensure that they have better working conditions | 48% | 39% |
| Are a good entry-level job for people who are entering the workforce. | 60% | 29% |
| Are the kind of jobs you can build a career out of. | 37% | 50% |
24. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each statement about Ontario’s Technology Platform or ‘gig’ workers?
| Resources | Total Agree | Total Disagree |
|---|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) | (n=2003) |
| Ontario should treat technology platform or ‘gig’ workers the same as traditional workers in terms of employment regulations and labour protections. | 75% | 14% |
| Ontario should treat technology platform or ‘gig’ workers the same as traditional workers in terms of employment benefits. | 69% | 19% |
| Ontario’s labour laws should protect people who get jobs as technology platform or ‘gig’ workers while they move from job to job | 71% | 16% |
| Ontario should guarantee a certain minimum level of income for technology platform or ‘gig’ workers. | 62% | 25% |
| To attract and keep people in Ontario it is important that we have government benefits available based on where they live not who they work for. | 67% | 19% |
| In the very near future people are going to be able to do many jobs from anywhere in the world. | 69% | 15% |
| Ontario should guarantee a certain minimum length of employment for technology platform or ‘gig’ workers for job security. | 56% | 27% |
| Technology platform or ‘gig’ workers and people working for multiple employers at the same time are more common. | 61% | 16% |
| Within my lifetime we will have as many technology platform or ‘gig’ workers as we will full time employees. | 53% | 23% |
| Currently, tech platform or ‘gig’ workers have the same, benefits and labour protection as traditional workers in Ontario. | 18% | 54% |
25. And, to what extent do you agree or disagree with each statement about Ontario’s technology platform workers?
| Resources | Total Agree | Total Disagree |
|---|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) | (n=2003) |
| Ontario’s technology platform or ‘gig’ workers have flexibility in their employment | 69% | 16% |
| Ontario’s technology platform or ‘gig’ workers have control over their employment | 49% | 35% |
| Ontario’s technology platform or ‘gig’ workers have security in their employment | 23% | 59% |
26. What, if anything else do you feel is important to ensuring that Technology Platform Workers in Ontario have flexibility, control, and security in the work they do?
| Resources | Total |
|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) |
| Fair/ better/ minimum wages/ income | 8% |
| Good benefits (paid sick leave, pensions, vacation pay, etc.) | 7% |
| Should have regulations/ laws to be mandated/ followed | 5% |
| Ensure workers safety/ protection | 4% |
| Protect workers’ rights/ ensure they are not taken advantage of | 3% |
| Job security/ stability | 3% |
| Ability to join unions | 2% |
| Contracts/ clear working conditions | 2% |
| Equality/ fair treatment/ same rights with other workers | 2% |
| Flexible hours/ schedule | 2% |
| Education/ training/ continuous learning | 2% |
| Not familiar/ need more information to comment | 2% |
| Have enough job opportunities/ demand of their services | 1% |
| Communication between worker and employer/ give workers a say | 1% |
| Lower taxes/ taxes payment | 1% |
| Guarantee a number of hours | <1% |
| Provide them with adequate/ updated resources/ tools | <1% |
| Get rid/ lessen admin fees/ cost should be shouldered by employers | <1% |
| Support/ better support | <1% |
| Nothing | 20% |
| Other | 8% |
| Don’t know | 36% |
27. Now, thinking about how Ontario can ensure that technology platform workers have flexibility, control and security in the work they do. Which of the following is closest to your own opinion?
| Responses | Total |
|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) |
| Full time employees make long-term commitments to their employers and therefore should get better benefits and support under the law than ‘gig’, technology platform, or part-time workers. | 50% |
| ‘Gig’, technology platform, and part-time workers are becoming the new workforce and we need to adjust our laws to ensure they are well supported, get the same benefits as full time employees in Ontario. | 50% |
27A. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following?
| Responses | Total Agree | Neutral | Total Disagree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) | (n=2003) | (n=2003) |
| It is essential that all businesses are regulated using the same rules, whether they are part of the ‘gig’ or technology worker economy or not. | 28% | 23% | 8% |
| The ‘gig’ or technology worker economy encourages entrepreneurial behavior and is a positive thing for our society. | 13% | 37% | 13% |
| The ‘gig’ or technology worker economy is the future and shouldn’t be hindered by unnecessary regulation. | 9% | 37% | 27% |
| Regulations on traditional businesses should be relaxed so that they can compete with companies in the ‘gig’ or technology worker economy. | 8% | 39% | 23% |
| The ‘gig’ or technology worker economy is a serious threat to jobs in traditional businesses. | 8% | 39% | 27% |
28. How much responsibility should the following organizations have in ensuring Ontario’s tech platform or ‘gig’ workers have flexibility, control and security? Use a scale from 1 to 7 where 1 means ‘no responsibility at all’ and where 7 means ‘a great deal of responsibility’.
| Responses | Total Responsible | Neutral | Total Not Responsible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base: Total Respondents | (n=2003) | (n=2003) | (n=2003) |
| The provincial government | 76% | 16% | 8% |
| Businesses or the private sector | 69% | 21% | 10% |
| The federal government | 68% | 19% | 13% |
| Local or municipal government | 58% | 25% | 17% |
| Labour unions | 57% | 22% | 21% |
Which of the following describes how you usually get paid for the work you do?
| Responses | Total |
|---|---|
| Base: Employed | (n=1062) |
| I am paid on a weekly basis | 13% |
| I am paid on a bi-weekly basis | 73% |
| I get paid on the same day that I work | 2% |
| I get paid after each activity that I complete, when I drive someone or deliver something, etc. | 3% |
| I often get paid several months after I have completed a contract or task for someone. | 4% |
| Other | 6% |
Updated: June 17, 2022
Published: December 01, 2021