Canadians are increasingly reluctant to define themselves by their jobs, instead emphasizing family, personal interests, and flexibility in a shift that has strengthened since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to recent polling and research.
University of Toronto sociology professor Scott Schieman says the pandemic prompted many workers to reconsider how much of their time, energy, and sense of self they wanted to invest in their careers.
“My sense is that especially out of the pandemic, people have a really conflicted relationship with work,” Schieman told The Epoch Times.
The shift is creating a contradiction: Work may be less central to people’s identities, but rising living costs are making it increasingly important economically. And as artificial intelligence threatens to displace workers, Schieman says Canadians may have to reconsider just how much their jobs matter to them….