By Joyce Wayne
What if it’s true that baby boomers are the happiest generation, even luckier than we think we are? Born directly after World War II until 1964, we inherited a decades long series of generous government programs combined with unparalleled economic prosperity.
As a child, I recall sitting in the House of Commons while Prime Minister John Diefenbaker passed the federal student loan support program. For the first time, all Canadians of any background and income could afford to attend university.
Quality of Life Indicators Survey
A Statistics Canada survey based on Quality of Life indicators, a federal government measurement meant to shed light on the population’s well-being and reported in The National Post showed that today’s younger people are “not okay.” The newspaper labelled their future outlook as “bleak.” At the same time, boomers are content with our lives. The categories covered in the Statistic Canada survey, released this September, included prosperity, health, good governance, housing, environment and society.
Generational Satisfaction: Boomers vs. Young Adult
What is most disturbing is that the satisfaction level of younger Canadians between the ages of 25 and 34 is declining, which has been so since 2021. “By 2024, fewer than 4 in 10 (36.9 percent) of these younger adults were highly satisfied with their lives,” according to Statistics Canada.
On the other hand, in 2024, boomers are content, with more than 60 percent reporting satisfaction. This level of satisfaction has remained stable since 2021. Yet, overall, Canadians’ feelings about the future are declining. According to The National Post, those who took the survey were asked: “Thinking about your life in general, how often would you say you have a hopeful view of the future?” If they responded “always” or “often,” they were considered hopeful.
Drop in Hopefulness for Middle-Aged Canadians
Surprisingly, adults aged 45 to 54 were the least hopeful. They went from 68.3 percent hopeful in 2021 to 59.7 percent in 2024. So, what gives? Why are boomers predominately hopeful while, sadly, young Canadians aged 15 to 24 are also showing signs of declining hopefulness over the years, and the hopefulness of the middle-aged has dropped by 8.6 percent?
For the longest time, we’ve understood that raising a young family and working is challenging, yet by the time one reaches 45, there is a common belief that life becomes more manageable or more settled. Children are off to school, and jobs and housing are secure so families can go about their days in the best way possible.
Now, these age-old canards are taking on the colouring of myth. Middle age is not all it’s cracked up to be, and right now, putting food on the table and maintaining a reasonable standard of living appears to be eroding. Was it Covid that made so many less hopeful? Is it inflation and the cost of living? Climate change? Is it a lack of opportunity? Job insecurity? Is it the scarcity of housing?
Insights on Well-Being in Canada: Key Quality of Life Indicators
Prosperity
While investigating the Stats Can survey, I discovered pointers to why we are or are not hopeful. Under the “Prosperity” heading, I found that $70,500 is the median after-tax income for economic families or persons not in an economic family. Canada ranks 13 out of 41 OECD countries — not as high as I expected.
Society
Another quality of life category is “Society.” Only 47.8 percent of respondents to this survey reported a strong sense of belonging to the local community.
Housing Needs
The next category is “Housing Needs.” Respondents were asked if they lived in acceptable housing. More than 75 percent reported living in acceptable houses, and another 75.8 percent said they had people they could depend on when they were in need. This statistic increased by 4.6 since 2023.
For older people like me, a home, a good marriage, grown children, and an active social life fill my days with a sense of hopefulness and completion. Yet, I also wish the same for my daughter and for my friends and colleagues and their children who are young adults or older. Essentially, for all Canadians it’s worrisome that the feeling of hopefulness is not more apparent across the board. Together, let’s find ways to make the younger generations more fulfilled.
