Family Matters: Parental leaves in Canada
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Release date: February 10, 2021
Description: Family Matters: Parental leaves in Canada
Family Matters: Parental leaves in Canada
Between 2012 and 2017Note 1, 2.3 million Canadians (80% of parents) took a leave (paid or unpaid) from their job for the birth or adoption of a child.
More women than men take leave for the birth or adoption of a child
- 9 in 10 mothers took a leave from work
- 7 in 10 fathers took a leave from work
Men and women take different types of leave for the birth or adoption of a child
- 88% of mothers took maternity and/or parental leave
- 46% of fathers took paternity and/or parental leave
- 42% of fathers took annual leave
Mothers take longer periods of leave than fathers
- Just over 8 in 10 mothers took 27 to 52 weeks of maternity and/or parental leave
- Nearly 1 in 2 fathers took 5 weeks or less of paternity and/or parental leave
In Quebec, the type of leave taken for the birth or adoption of a child is mainly maternity/paternity and/or parental leaveNote 2
Elsewhere in Canada
- Mothers: 85%
- Fathers: 24%
Quebec
- Mothers: 96%
- Fathers: 93%
Notes:
- This infographic has been made possible through the collaboration and financial support of Women and Gender Equality Canada.
- The data refer to parents who were paid workers or self-employed before the birth or adoption of a child (between 2012 and 2017).
Source: Statistics Canada, General Social Survey - Family, 2017.
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