By Danielle 
More Canadian employees are receiving medical and dental benefits through their jobs, according to new data from Statistics Canada.
The agency said 66.8 per cent of employees reported having workplace medical or dental coverage in 2024, marking the third straight year of increases. The share stood at 63.3 per cent in 2021, rose to 64.2 per cent in 2022 and climbed again to 66.4 per cent in 2023.
Full-time and permanent employees were far more likely to have coverage than those working part-time or in temporary jobs, the data showed. Public sector workers and employees covered by collective agreements also had higher access to benefits.
A gender gap persists. In 2024, 63.8 per cent of women reported having workplace medical or dental coverage compared with 69.5 per cent of men. Statistics Canada said this gap is largely tied to the higher rate of part-time work among women — 21.6 per cent compared with 11.4 per cent for men. Among full-time employees, coverage rates for women (75.5 per cent) and men (76.6 per cent) were nearly identical.
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Coverage varied across provinces
Coverage rates also varied widely across provinces. Saskatchewan (71.7 per cent), Manitoba (70.3 per cent), British Columbia (70.0 per cent) and Alberta (69.7 per cent) posted the highest levels of access to workplace medical or dental care. Quebec (60.6 per cent), Prince Edward Island (63.2 per cent) and Newfoundland and Labrador (63.6 per cent) reported the lowest.
Statistics Canada noted Quebec’s lower rate may be linked to its unique public health insurance model. The province requires all residents to have prescription drug coverage, either through a private plan or through the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ), which may reduce the need for employers to offer additional benefits.
The news comes amid caution from the Canadian Dental Association, which has warned that the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) could erode private dental insurance provided by employers — coverage most Canadians rely on.
Please read related article: Health Canada pushes back on fears CDCP will erode private coverage