Canada has emerged as the world’s most remote-friendly labour market, according to Morgan McKinley’s 2026 Workplace Trends Report.
The report found that 45% of Canadian employees currently work fully remotely, compared with just 12% of workers globally. An even larger share—48%—said they would ideally spend zero days in the office each week, more than three times the global average of 15%.
The close alignment between how Canadians currently work and how they would prefer to work suggests remote employment has become firmly established across the country.
For employers competing for skilled professionals, Morgan McKinley says offering meaningful flexibility could provide an advantage in recruitment and retention.
“Canada continues to stand out as one of the strongest advocates for remote working,” said Ian Kinsella, Managing Director at Morgan McKinley Canada. “Flexible working is no longer viewed as a perk—it’s become an expectation for many employees.”
Kinsella said employers must balance those expectations with the need to support collaboration and performance. Companies requiring more frequent office attendance may also need to better explain the benefits employees receive from working in person.
The report identified broader uncertainty across the global workforce, despite relatively stable hiring plans. Nearly half of employees worldwide—49%—said they expect to actively search for a new job within the next six months.
At the same time, 63% of employers said they were not planning headcount reductions in 2026. However, only 43% of employees described their current positions as secure or very secure.
More than one-third of workers believe their role could be affected by restructuring, automation or cost-cutting. If they believed their job was at risk, 85% said they would begin applying for new positions, while 64% would pursue additional skills or certifications.
Compensation is another source of pressure, with nearly 70% of employees reporting that they had not received a salary increase during the previous six months. That figure increased from 65% in 2025.
Artificial intelligence is also playing a growing role in employment searches. Morgan McKinley found that 43% of workers are using AI or automation tools while looking for jobs, up from 26% last year.
Employees are less comfortable when companies use the technology to evaluate candidates, however. Nearly half—46%—said they were uncomfortable with AI assessing their interview performance.
AI and data capabilities were the most commonly cited development priority, identified by 70% of employees. But 56% said their employers were not investing enough in their professional development.
For Canadian companies, the findings suggest that flexibility, skills development and transparent workplace policies will remain important as employers compete for talent in an uncertain labour market.