The employment preferences of young people in Canada: a discrete choice experiment

Young people across the world are facing numerous challenges, with unemployment and precarious employment being substantial issues, impacting young people with all levels of education. For many young people, the pandemic exacerbated their employment precarity. While efforts were made to ameliorate these pandemic related challenges for young people, information about the employment preferences of Canadian young workers (YW) is limited. The aim of this study was to understand the employment needs, challenges and preferences of Canadian YW in the COVID-19 era and beyond.

Using discrete choice experiment, YW from across Canada aged 18-29 years old were recruited to participate in an online survey October 2022 to April 2023 which was offered in both English and French. Nine job attributes were identified based on findings from the qualitative component of this mixed methods project: wage, earnings stability, job flexibility, vacation, sick time, health insurance, and workplace policies (respectful workplace, and being valued and understood as an employee). Respondents were presented with nine choice sets, each representing two scenarios that differ on policies or actions (attributes) related to their employment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Based on the respondent (N = 231) sample, analysis revealed that of YW aged 18-29 years, most valued having employment benefits along with workplace policies. These values were strongest for women and 18-21-year-olds. Overall, the employment preferences of Canadian YW in the current study align with four of five attributes considered by the International Labour Organization as minimum standards for decent work. These include adequate compensation, adequate access to health care, adequate free time and rest, and organizational values that support one's [own and] family values. More specifically, study findings show that within the cohort there are strong gendered and aged-based preferences for non-monetary over monetary job attributes. These include employment benefits along with equitable, supportive employment policies.

The findings suggest that health and wellbeing are highly valued by YW and are among key drivers of employment preferences for Canadian YW during and after the pandemic, and therefore call for policies in the workplace that support the health and well-being of YW.