The workplace hasn’t always been a welcoming place for women and many barriers to success still exist today. Employers, industries and the government have to continue to find ways of supporting women who want to work; to that end, Indeed Canada commissioned a market research study of more than 1,500 Canadian working women of various ages and career levels to gauge how they feel about the workplace now and in the future.

Views and insights from women

In addition to the insights from the research, Dr. Nicole Haggerty, Assistant Dean, Mentorship and Associate Professor at the Ivey Business School, Western University, alongside Michelle Slater, Director at Indeed and member of the Women at Indeed inclusion group, helped identify current and future trends for this report.

Encouraging and actionable findings

The findings from this research study indicate a general sense of optimism and provide actionable solutions in four key areas of interest: 

  • Salary and Compensation: Generally, women witness it less in their own organizations, but still perceive a gender pay gap in Canada. Most don’t feel they are paid enough, but they are also not comfortable talking about compensation, and are looking to their organization to provide transparent information.
  • Positive Work Culture, Belonging and Wellbeing: Women value diversity and inclusion policies, and many also want to see women in positions of leadership. Mental health is a major concern for a positive work culture, but few are comfortable discussing this with their manager. They are asking for organizational support, training and mentorship.
  • Work-Life Balance: Women like working in an office, though a majority are looking for a hybrid arrangement. They see technology positively despite the increased workload and difficulty disconnecting it can bring. They want flexibility wherever it's possible and better communications from employers.
  • Job Security: Working women want to feel secure in their jobs. Half of them see a bright future for their organization and their career prospects despite pessimism about the economy. They believe more women will sit in leadership roles, though many see it being easier for men to progress in their careers. Better transparency and training are required to help.

A way forward

The optimism found in this study should be taken by employers as encouragement to pursue winning strategies to attract and retain women in the workforce. Download this data-rich report to read about what Canadian working women are preoccupied with now and how they see the future of work, and what employers can do to support them.