Canadians are delaying having children, weakening pipeline of working adults
Affordability is one of the main reasons why Canadians are delaying parenthood and that is not good news for an aging population requiring a renewed workforce.
While immigration remains a hot topic in Canada, the ability of those already here to repopulate appears weakened with the fertility rate dropping to its lowest ever rate for a second consecutive year in 2023.
The Angus Reid Institute has been asking adults under 50 about their parenthood ambitions and found that just 21% said they definitely will have at least one child with another third saying they might do.
Half of all respondents said they have delayed having children longer than they wanted to, including 74% of those aged 35-44.
Uncertainty around finances and the job market is the top reason for delaying parenthood (41%) closely followed by not finding the right partner (40%). But the third and fourth reasons return to financial reasons with 33% citing the cost of childcare and 31% highlighting the housing affordability crisis.
Among those who have ruled out becoming parents, childcare costs are a key factor (25%) along with concern that they cannot afford a suitable home (18%).
With 33% of parents saying they pay $10 a day for childcare, 25% paying around $20, and 10% paying $40, the costs soon mount up.
While many may expect the government to do more to make childcare affordable, 51% of respondents disagree and say it is not their responsibility to fund other people’s childcare. There’s a split of 44% versus 41% on the question of whether the government will ever truly be able to provide affordable childcare for all.
