Category: Transportation

More than half of those who worked from home during the pandemic are willing to switch jobs to avoid commuting.  

Vancouver, BC [January 25, 2002] – Most British Columbians who have had to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic are willing to explore opportunities that provide the flexibility to be away from an office setting, a new Research Co. poll has found.  

In the online survey of a representative sample, 58% of employed British Columbians who have worked from home during the pandemic say they are “very likely” or “moderately likely” to seek a different job if their current company does not allow them to labour from home as often as they want, up two points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in September 2021.  

“British Columbians aged 18-to-34 have developed a deeper attachment to the home office, with 64% saying they would switch jobs if their new employer allows them to avoid commuting,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The proportion is lower among those aged 35-to-54 (59%) and those aged 55 and over (45%).”  

Almost two thirds of British Columbia’s “home workers” (64%, =) would consider switching to a different job that can be performed from home for a company located in their own metropolitan area. A majority (57%, +2) would consider this course of action for a business located in the province, while 45% (+1) would be willing to enter an arrangement with a company headquartered in another province.  

More than half of employed British Columbians (54%) acknowledge working from home at some point during the COVID-19 pandemic—a proportion that rises to 65% among those aged 18-to-34.  

This month, only 34% of employed British Columbians who have worked from home during the pandemic say they expect to be able to remain in their home office at least three times a week when the pandemic ends, down 13 points since September 2021. Only 11% (-4) believe they will not be able to work from home at all when COVID-19 is over.  

Fewer than two-in-five “home workers” in British Columbia have been advised of a plan for employees to return to the usual office (37%, -8) or of a plan for how employees will be able to work from home after the pandemic is over (also 37%, -3).  

Employed British Columbians continue to expect certain features of their jobs to remain in place after COVID-19 is behind us. More than two-in-five foresee increases in virtual communications between offices (46%, +3), virtual staff meetings (45%, +2) and virtual business development (also 45%, +4).  

Conversely, sizeable proportions of employed British Columbians expect reductions for in-person staff meetings (43%, +1), business travel (39%, +2) and in-person business development meetings (38%, =) once the pandemic is over.

A majority of the province’s residents aged 18-to-34 acknowledge that they prefer to buy things online instead of in person.  

Vancouver, BC [December 3, 2021] – British Columbians are not visiting restaurants and coffee shops as much as they did before the COVID-19 pandemic, and more than a third are relying on online platforms more often to acquire items and gifts, a new Research Co. poll has found.  

In the online survey of a representative provincial sample, at least three-in-five British Columbians say they are visiting a sit-down restaurant less often than before the pandemic for breakfast (60%), lunch (62%) or dinner (65%).  

Almost two thirds of British Columbians (64%) also acknowledge that they are having a drink at a pub or bar less often than they did two years ago.  

Significant proportions of British Columbians also report visiting coffee shops less often to purchase beverages or snacks to go (40%) or to be enjoyed inside the venue (59%).  

Seven-in-ten British Columbians of East Asian descent (70%) say they are dining out less often than they did before the pandemic. Two thirds of the province’s residents of European (66%) and First Nations origins (also 66%) are also not visiting restaurants for dinner as often as they used to.  

Across the province, 27% of British Columbians say they are buying groceries in person less often now than two years ago. About two-in-five of the province’s residents also say they are going to stores less often than before the pandemic to purchase items for the home or family (38%) or to buy gifts (42%).  

Conversely, 22% of British Columbians say they are purchasing groceries online for home delivery more often than two years ago. More than a third are also relying on online platforms more often now to acquire gifts (36%) or items for the home or family (38%).  

When asked if they prefer buying things online or in person, a majority of British Columbians (54%) express a predilection for in store purchases, while two-in-five (41%) say they would rather use the internet.  

“There are some clear generational differences when British Columbians are asked about how they like to buy things,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Most of the province’s residents aged 18-to-34 (56%) prefer online platforms, those aged 55 and over are fonder of buying things in person (71%) and those aged 35-to-54 are evenly split.”  

Millennials and Metro Vancouverites are more likely to be relying on apps to have food delivered to their homes.

Vancouver, BC [February 9, 2021] – British Columbians are not ordering food delivered to their homes as often as they did a year ago, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative provincial sample, 32% of British Columbians say they order food that is delivered to their homes once every two weeks or more often, down 14 points since a similar Research Co. survey conducted in February 2020.

More than half of British Columbians aged 18-to-34 (54%) are having food delivered to their homes at least once every fortnight, compared to 37% among those aged 35-to-54 and 10% among those aged 55 and over.

In a poll conducted by Research Co. in January 2021, 21% of Canadians—and 19% of British Columbians—said they are not ordering food from restaurants at all because they fear infection from COVID-19.

Just under half of British Columbians (45%, -1) order food that they pick up themselves from a restaurant at least once every fortnight. 

Three-in-ten British Columbians (30%) dine out at a restaurant at least once every two weeks, down from 55% in 2020.

While 27% of British Columbians say they are ordering food delivered to their home more often than last year, a similar proportion (28%) is partaking on this option less than before.

“The momentum for the food delivery business in British Columbia is being driven primarily by Millennials,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “While 42% of residents aged 18-to-34 say they are ordering food for their homes more often, only 31% of those aged 35-to-54 and 13% of those aged 55 and over are joining them.”

One third of Metro Vancouverites (34%) are ordering food for their homes more often than last year. The Fraser Valley is a close second on this indicator (29%), followed by Vancouver Island (18%), Northern BC (15%) and Southern BC (13%).

Over the past year, more than a third of British Columbians relied on three different methods to have food delivered to their home: a phone call to a specific restaurant (39%, -4 since February 2020), online through the website of a restaurant or chain (37%, -1) and using an app on their phone, such as DoorDash, Uber Eats or Skip The Dishes (36%, +4).

While two thirds of British Columbians aged 18-to-34 have used an app to order food in the past year (65%), the proportion drops to 39% among those aged 35-to-54 and 13% among those aged 55 and over.

On a regional basis, Metro Vancouverites relied primarily on apps to order food over the past year (47%). In the other four regions, the most favoured method is a phone call to a specific restaurant: 58% in Northern BC, 45% in the Fraser Valley, 39% in Southern BC and 37% in Vancouver Island.

More than half of British Columbians (54%) say they always leave a tip for the delivery person or courier who brings food to their home, including 57% of women, 58% of British Columbians aged 35-to-54 and 66% of Vancouver Islanders.

Only 28% of British Columbians say they always leave a tip or donation for the restaurant—an option that can be accessed in some applications at the time deliveries are finalized—while 34% never do this.

Methodology:
Results are based on an online study conducted from February 1 to February 3, 2021, among 800 adult British Columbians. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in British Columbia. The margin of error— which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.5 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here. 

For more information on this poll, please contact:

Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.
778.929.0490
[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca