A new report has analyzed work-life balance for 100 Canadian communities. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge ranks 82nd on national work-life balance ranking

Jun 3, 2024 | 10:27 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A new study claims people in several Alberta communities are falling behind when it comes to balancing their professional and personal lives.

Point2 has examined Canada’s 100 largest communities to determine the exact levels of work-life balance across the country.

To do this, the company looked at three broad categories, including:

• Work Intensity metrics:
  • Percentage of People Working from Home; Working Hours; Unemployment Rate; Percentage of People with Multiple Jobs; Commute Time (minutes); Gini Index (inequality index on adjusted after-tax household income).
• Health & Wellbeing metrics:
  • Life Expectancy (years); Perceived Health; Perceived Mental Health; Perceived Life Stress; Mood Disorder (depression, bipolar disorder, mania, or dysthymia); Life Satisfaction; Body Mass Index (percentage of overweight or obese residents); High Blood Pressure; Employed Specialists & General Practitioners (per 1,000 residents); Employed Psychologists (per 1,000 residents).
• Liveability metrics:
  • Percentage of People Spending Less than 30% of Income on Housing Costs; Median After-Tax Household Income; Cost of Living – Rent; Cost of Living – Utilities; Benchmark Price (as of March 2024); Crime Severity Index; Average Greenness; Air Quality; Walk Score; Performing Arts Businesses (per 10,000 residents); Spectator Sports Businesses (per 10,000 residents); Museums (per 10,000 residents); Amusement Parks & Arcades (per 10,000 residents); Food Services & Drinking Places (per 10,000 residents).

Lévis, Quebec had the highest overall score in the country at 69.61. Most of the top 20 consists of communities in Quebec and Ontario.

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It is not until number 50 that we see a single municipality in Alberta, which is Strathcona County. Its overall score was 52.88, doing the best in the liveability category.

Point2 says in its report, “Strathcona County, AB, is the region’s best for work-life balance due to a mix of factors: Low crime severity, one of the highest after-tax median household incomes ($105,000), and the fact that more than 85% of residents spend less than 30% of their income on housing costs.”

Lethbridge was ranked 82 on a national basis and was the seventh-lowest Alberta community. It had an overall score of 42.27, with affordability helping to drive up its liveability score.

“For professionals prioritizing affordable rent as a crucial aspect of their work-life peace of mind, Lethbridge, AB, stands out with the lowest cost of living in terms of rent,” says Point2. “Renting in Lethbridge averages just $1,125 — a stark comparison to the $4,000 to $5,000 range commonly seen in cities like Toronto or Vancouver.”

Grande Prairie was the second-lowest ranked community nationally with an overall score of just 37.33.

A total of 10 Alberta communities were included in the ranking, which are listed below with the national placing in brackets:

• Strathcona County (50)
  • Overall Score: 52.88
  • Health & Wellbeing Score: 18.97
  • Work Intensity Score: 9.39
  • Liveability Score: 24.52
• Airdrie (52)
  • Overall Score: 52.61
  • Health & Wellbeing Score: 23.76
  • Work Intensity Score: 9.48
  • Liveability Score: 19.36
• St. Albert (58)
  • Overall Score: 50.97
  • Health & Wellbeing Score: 19.36
  • Work Intensity Score: 10.33
  • Liveability Score: 21.27
• Calgary (62)
  • Overall Score: 49.7
  • Health & Wellbeing Score: 21.33
  • Work Intensity Score: 8.15
  • Liveability Score: 20.21
• Red Deer (72)
  • Overall Score: 45.27
  • Health & Wellbeing Score: 17.61
  • Work Intensity Score: 6.24
  • Liveability Score: 21.42
• Edmonton (74)
  • Overall Score: 44
  • Health & Wellbeing Score: 17.3
  • Work Intensity Score: 7
  • Liveability Score: 19.67
• Lethbridge (82)
  • Overall Score: 42.27
  • Health & Wellbeing Score: 8.27
  • Work Intensity Score: 8.39
  • Liveability Score: 25.61
• Wood Buffalo (93)
  • Overall Score: 37.58
  • Health & Wellbeing Score: 6.45
  • Work Intensity Score: 6.15
  • Liveability Score: 24.97
• Medicine Hat (95)
  • Overall Score: 37.42
  • Health & Wellbeing Score: 7.3
  • Work Intensity Score: 6.42
  • Liveability Score: 23.7
• Grande Prairie (96)
  • Overall Score: 37.33
  • Health & Wellbeing Score: 6.52
  • Work Intensity Score: 7.52
  • Liveability Score: 23.3

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    Source: Point2

The full report can be found on the Point2 website.

READ MORE: Rent rises around 10 per cent in one year in Lethbridge

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