Advancing Economic Inclusion, Mobility, Financial Security and Financial Resilience

Economic inclusion and mobility are essential for individuals, small businesses and communities to build resilience and prosper. This Full Report and Intelligence Memo provide robust data and Index analytics on the intersection of economic inclusion, employment, income, household financial resilience and financial well-being.

Designed for policymakers, employers and ecosystem leaders, the insights help spark dialogue and inform policies, strategies and programs that can drive meaningful impact. The analysis also highlights opportunities to better support people facing barriers and future-generation workers.

Explore the reports to uncover key insights and opportunities to advance economic inclusion, mobility and financial resilience together.

This memo focuses on four key economic inclusion indicators:

• The proportion of Canadians facing barriers impacting their ability to earn money: Structural and systemic challenges that limit income-generating opportunities.
• The proportion of Canadians experiencing significant income volatility: The impact of inconsistent income on financial stability and resilience.
• The proportion of Canadians reporting they feel insecure in their work or job situation: Challenges in maintaining stable employment, especially in changing economic landscapes.
• The proportion of Canadians that have taken on additional work or a side gig to earn additional income in the past 13 months: The growing need for additional income sources as individuals take on side hustles.

The Institute’s Index analytics prove there is a clear association between people having meaningful employment and/or not economic inclusion barriers, and improved household financial resilience outcomes. People who are more financially resilient also have improved financial well-being, and physical, emotional, and mental well-being. They are also more engaged and productive at work, as a result of lower levels of financial stress.

Thus, this Intelligence Memo underscores the need for targeted support to help Canadians access meaningful employment, overcome economic inclusion barriers and achieve economic mobility.

This intelligence memo is designed to inform and support a wide range of stakeholders in the ecosystem, including Policymakers, Employers, Financial Institutions and community organizations. It provides data-driven analysis and insights that can guide efforts to remove barriers and foster inclusive economic growth. To drive real change, we must tackle economic inclusion and mobility challenges collaboratively. Policymakers can address systemic barriers through targeted policies; employers can implement practices that support financial security for their employees; and community organizations can offer resources that directly impact economic mobility.

Additional data and insights on this topic are available in the ‘All In: Pathways to Economic and Financial Inclusion in Canada’ report
published by Public Policy Forum in December 2024, with Financial Resilience Institute a key report contributor. This report is available here.

Read the ‘Flipping the Script’ – Charting a path towards full Economic Financial Inclusion in Canada’ Report published by Public Policy Forum with data analytics and provided by Financial Resilience Institute (December 2024).

Get in touch if you’d like to explore opportunities to advance economic mobility through policies, programs or interventions, with our non-profit able to spotlight opportunities and measure impact in meaningful ways.