Newfoundlanders are the most overworked in Canada and Quebecers and British Columbians the least, according to an analysis of Statistics Canada labour force data.
Put another way, British Columbians and Quebecers appear to be lazier than most other Canadians.
The Alberta law firm Preszler Injury Lawyers examined data from Statistics Canada to determine the working hours of Canadians in each province. The law firm calculated average weekly hours based on monthly values between January 2023 and December 2023.
Generally speaking, it found workers in natural resource sectors and agriculture tended to work longer hours, and those employed in arts, culture and sport worked the fewest hours.
The analysis found people in Newfoundland and Labrador worked an average of 38.18 hours per week. British Columbians worked an average of just 35.08 hours per week, and workers in Quebec worked an average of 34.27 hours per week.
“The most overworked occupation sector is natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations in all but two provinces,” the study concluded.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, workers in those sectors worked 54.23 hours a week.
“The most overworked occupation category in the province is supervisors and occupations in natural resources, agriculture and related production,” the law firm said.
“The next most overworked is general trades, followed by workers and labourers in natural resources, agriculture and related production. Conversely, the least overworked occupation category is support occupations in art, culture, and sport.”
Alberta ranked as the fourth most overworked province in Canada. People there worked an average of 36.71 weekly hours.
In British Columbia, the average work-week was just 35.08 hours. Those in natural resources and agriculture worked longer hours – an average of 39.40 hours per week.
“The most overworked occupation category in British Columbia is supervisors and occupations in natural resources, agriculture and related production, with occupations in front-line protective services a close second,” the firm concludes.
“The third most overworked category is supervisors, central control and process operators in processing, manufacturing, and utilities and aircraft assemblers and inspectors. The least overworked occupation category in this province is support occupations in art, culture and sport.”
(This story has been updated to correct a figure for B.C. in average hours worked per week).
