In the recently released list of Canada’s best mixed-use work-commuter towns, many cities in the Greater Vancouver area are prominently featured.
The International Workplace Group (IWG), a leader in flexible workplace solutions operating in more than 120 countries, compiled this list. In IWG’s Commuting Towns Index, Burnaby received the highest honour for living in Canada for mixed-use workers, while Richmond ranked third.
IWG says that long commutes are “gradually being phased out,” and according to its research, only 4% of employees worldwide are willing to commute more than an hour each day. The report also points out that the younger generation is leading this shift, with 75% of millennials and 72% of Gen Z saying they would be willing to live further from the city centre if they had access to co-working spaces or good transportation connections.
Hamilton ranked second, Coquitlam ranked seventh, and Surrey and Port Moody tied for tenth. This means that five of the top ten cities are in Greater Vancouver.
IWG notes: “Burnaby scores so highly because of its excellent transport links, proximity to the city centre, numerous amenities, and flexible workspaces. The town’s excellent location, with SkyTrain connections to multiple rapid transit lines, a walkable core, strong digital infrastructure, and a thriving local economy, makes it particularly suitable for hybrid workers looking to balance work and life without sacrificing career development opportunities.”
According to IWG, in a report of 1,000 people working in hybrid environments, 52% reported an improvement in their overall mood, 53% reported improved sleep quality, and 45% reported more energy. Another Canadian study showed that 79% of employees working in hybrid work arrangements reported lower stress levels due to reduced daily commutes.
Additionally, 44% reported a decrease in their sick days. According to Daily Hive, IWG CEO and founder Mark Dixon said, “The idea of commuters getting up early every morning, hopping into polluting cars or crowded trains, and trekking miles to work will soon become a crazy thing that people used to do in the past.”
“The hybrid work model has improved our lives and benefited us greatly.”