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Just 56 per cent of Canadian employees rate their overall level of well-being as excellent or good, down from 65 per cent in 2025, according to a new survey by RBC Insurance
The survey, which polled 1,000 employees, found this downward trend was consistent across all dimensions of well-being, including mental health (52 per cent compared to 59 per cent in 2025), physical health (53 per cent compared to 59 per cent) and financial health (42 per cent compared to 44 per cent)
Notably, the largest decline was seen among workers aged 18 to 34 — just 49 per cent of these employees reported good or excellent overall well-being, down from 67 per cent last year
Read:Survey finds younger workers more likely to say well-being isn’t supported by employer
Employees with access to group benefits (64 per cent) were significantly more likely to believe their workplace culture supports their health and well-being compared to those without (46 per cent)
When asked about barriers to improved well-being, employees cited the rising cost of living (51 per cent) as their No. 1 obstacle, a percentage that increases to 60 per cent among employees with disabilities
Respondents cited physical fitness (57 per cent) as the primary aspect of their well-being they’d like to improve, followed by diet and nutrition (48 per cent) and sleep quality (47 per cent). Meanwhile, employees cited sleep quality (66 per cent), physical fitness (55 per cent) and financial security (54 per cent) as the factors that have the greatest effect on well-being
“Canadians are navigating real pressures of a challenging few years and it’s showing up in how they feel day to day,” said Tony Bruin, head of group benefits at RBC Insurance, in a press release. “What’s encouraging is that employers who lean in and make benefits available and accessible are seeing real results. The opportunity right now isn’t just in offering coverage, it’s in making sure employees actually understand and know how to use them.”
Read:EY Canada supporting employee well-being with expanded wellness reimbursements, financial education sessions
