Abstract
Workers who are religiously committed (weekly church attendees, the "very religious", volunteers for religious organizations, or members of religious groups) number 3.5 million, or 25% of all workers, or 52% of the total religiously committed in Canada. Estimates for this study are obtained from Statistics Canada's National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating, for 1997.
Some 831 thousand work in the community services sector where 34% are religiously committed. Teachers/religious workers and primary occupations have the highest percentages of religiously committed, but clerical and service occupations have the highest numbers.
Among faith communities, the Roman Catholic workers are most numerous, but the conservative Christian faiths (Baptist, Pentecostal, and smaller Christian faiths) have the highest percentages of workers who are religiously committed. Catholic workers number 5.6 million, of which 1.4 million are religiously committed. Some 876 thousand conservative Christian workers are religiously committed, and 313 thousand liberal Protestants (United Church, Anglican, Presbyterian and Lutheran).
Compared with other workers, the religiously committed tend to live in the Atlantic Provinces and Saskatchewan, to be older and female, to have older children, to be self-employed or employed part-time. They are also more likely to volunteer in religious and all non-religious organizations except those concerned with the environment, to donate food and clothing, to watch less television, and to be satisfied with their life and income.
Two case studies of religion in the workplace are summarized. Some suggestions for future research, workers and employers conclude this study.