Abstract

        The purpose of this report is to provide detailed data on the health of Canada's employed population aged 15 to 75 classified by their occupation group and worship frequency. Canadian totals are provided as well, in order to provide reference numbers.

        Ontario with 40% of the employed has 47% of the country's managers, while Quebec with 23% of the employed has 14% of the managers; women comprise 45% of the employed but 85% of those in administration and clerical occupations; immigrants make up 21% of the employed but only 9% of those in primary occupations; 32.5% of the employed are very satisfied with life, while 39% of professionals are very satisfied with life.

        Concerning indicators of the physical and mental health of the employed, 27% agree that most days are quite a bit or extremely stressful, and this ranges from 18% among those in primary occupations to 39% of managers. Some 67% of the employed are non-smokers, 56% in trade occupations, and 76% of professionals.

        Some 13% of the employed deal with stress (sometimes or often) by drinking alcohol, and this ranges from 10% of administrators to 15% of managers. Some 10% of the employed have been intoxicated while at work, school or during childcare, from 5% of administrators to 17% of those in trade, which includes transport and equipment operators.

        One of the biggest disparities among the employed appears in the distribution of hours worked per week: 32% average over 40 hours, though only 14% of those in administration, and a high of 61% among those in management.

        Some 15% of those in process occupations strongly agree that the job is very hectic, compared with 23% of all employed, and 33% of managers. Almost half, 49%, are very satisfied with their job, but this too varies widely, from 37% in process, etc occupations, to 57% of managers.

        Turning to contrasts between the weekly worshippers and non-worshippers, the weekly worshippers are much less likely than the non-worshippers in each occupation and population group to have characteristics that tend to be problematic in life and work: smoking, use of drugs, gambling, serious contemplation of suicide, coping with stress by drinking or smoking, and intoxication at work, school or during childcare.

        The weekly worshippers in each group also tend to be more likely to have characteristics that tend to be important in life and work: satisfaction with life, coping with stress by seeking spiritual help, viewing spiritual values as important, viewing their mental health as excellent, and having a sense of belonging to the community.

        The weekly worshippers are somewhat more likely to have a post-secondary degree or diploma, and to view their physical health as excellent, though they are more likely to be overweight according to the body-mass index. However, there are exceptions in some groups. They are also more likely to be married, women, immigrants Roman Catholic, and conservative Christian, but less likely to be liberal Protestants.

        Turning to job characteristics, in most occupation groups and among employed mothers and fathers the weekly worshippers are more likely to be very satisfied with their work than their non-worshipping counterparts and less likely to work long hours and weekends. They are less likely to view the work situation as the main source of daily stress, or to strongly agree that their work is hectic.