RBC Future Launch research shows young
Canadians see new opportunities in a post-pandemic world of work
despite still being concerned about their mental health
TORONTO, April 28,
2022 /CNW/ - An RBC Future Launch study of more than
1,800 Canadians aged 14-29 found that a large majority (79 per
cent) believe COVID-19 has actually created new opportunities in
the world of work.
The data suggests that despite spending two years in various
forms of lockdown, more than three-quarters (77 per cent) of young
Canadians are satisfied with their lives, 60 per cent are working
in a job in their desired field, and 71 per cent have avoided
regular feelings of isolation. More than one-third of all youth (34
per cent) actually say the pandemic has even been a source of
motivation.
"Despite a very difficult two years, young Canadians are telling
us that they have persevered and are trying to embrace the new
world of work that has been thrust upon them," said Mark Beckles, Vice-President, Social Impact and
Innovation, RBC. "They see new opportunities in jobs that can be
done online and that have more room for creativity. Our commitment
to empowering young people to prepare for the jobs of tomorrow is
stronger than ever and this study inspires us to find new and
practical ways to build on the successes of RBC Future Launch."
While the study points to a clear sense of optimism and
resilience among young Canadians, it also shows that the past two
years have had a negative impact on youth mental health.
A quarter of youth surveyed (26 per cent) say mental well-being
resources and services is the area of their lives where they need
the most support.
According to the data, youth who identify as female, Indigenous,
LGBTQ2S+ or having a disability are suffering the most. Females
aged 18-29 not working in their desired field are more likely than
males to say the pandemic is having a negative effect on their
mental health. Indigenous, LGBTQ2S+ and youth with a disability are
the most likely to rate various aspects of their life as 'poor' or
'terrible'.
Regionally, Quebec youth have
highest degrees of happiness (74%) and levels of excitement about
their future. At the other end of the spectrum, youth in
Manitoba and Saskatchewan are the least optimistic and
struggling the most in terms of their outlook.
"Young people across Canada are
telling us that they are hanging in there, but that they do need
support – in some regions more than others," added Beckles.
RBC Future Launch is a decade-long, $500 million commitment to empowering Canadian
youth for the jobs of tomorrow. RBC is committed to acting as a
catalyst for change, bringing government, educators, public sector
and not-for-profits together to co-create solutions to help young
people better prepare for the future of the work through practical
work experience, skills development, networking and access to
mental well-being supports and services. In 2020, RBC committed to
investing $50 million from now to
2025 through RBC Future Launch to create meaningful and
transformative pathways to prosperity for up to 25,000 BIPOC youth
with investments in areas such as skills development and
mentoring.
In response to COVID-19, RBC pivoted to reach young people
virtually through RBC Future Launch at Home and the RBC Future
Launch Future Ready Summit.
Study Methodology
A sample of n=1800 young Canadians (aged 14-29 years) was
collected through the Ipsos online I-Say panel. For those under 18
years of age, permission from a parent/guardian was required before
they could participate in the study.
Interviews were completed in both English and French
between January 21 and February 18,
2022.
Weighting was employed to balance demographics to ensure that
the sample's composition reflects that of the young adult
population according to census data. The precision of Ipsos online
polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the
poll is accurate to within ±2.6 percentage points, 19 times out of
20, had all young Canadians been polled. The credibility interval
will be wider among subsets of the population. All sample surveys
and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but
not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.
About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is a
global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led
approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from
the 88,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights
to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our
clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank, and one of the largest
in the world based on market capitalization, we have a diversified
business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional
experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn
more at rbc.com.
We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives
through donations, community investments and employee volunteer
activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact.
SOURCE RBC