Job satisfaction

Job satisfaction refers to the level of contentment, happiness, and fulfillment an individual experiences in their job or career. Job satisfaction goes beyond mere financial compensation and includes factors such as work environment, job security, opportunities for growth and development, recognition, work-life balance, and the alignment of personal values with organization culture.

In an organization dedicated to safeguarding national security, job satisfaction becomes paramount in fostering a motivated and engaged workforce. DND/CAF operates in a complex and demanding environment, where the commitment and morale of its personnel are crucial.

Sentiment towards job satisfaction

These metrics are from the 2020-2021 and 2022-2023 Public Service Employee Survey (PSES), which is sent to all DND public service employees, and the 2022 Your Say Matters (YSM) survey, which is sent to both DND public service employees and CAF members.

Defence Team

Overall, I am satisfied with my job:

category subcategory Year % Agree % Other
Overall Overall 2022 61% 39%
Gender All Men 2022 60% 40%
Gender All Women 2022 67% 33%
Gender DND public service employees Men 2022 71% 29%
Gender DND public service employees Women 2022 74% 27%
Gender Primary Reserve Men 2022 66% 34%
Gender Primary Reserve Women 2022 66% 34%
Gender Regular Force Men 2022 54% 46%
Gender Regular Force Women 2022 59% 41%
Component DND public service employees 2022 72% 28%
Component Primary Reserve 2022 64% 36%
Component Regular Force 2022 54% 46%
CAF Rank Overall Junior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 51% 49%
CAF Rank Overall Junior Officer 2022 58% 42%
CAF Rank Overall Senior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 61% 39%
CAF Rank Overall Senior Officer 2022 74% 26%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Junior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 58% 42%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Junior Officer 2022 60% 40%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Senior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 66% 34%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Senior Officer 2022 83% 17%
CAF Rank Regular Force Junior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 49% 51%
CAF Rank Regular Force Junior Officer 2022 56% 44%
CAF Rank Regular Force Senior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 58% 42%
CAF Rank Regular Force Senior Officer 2022 68% 32%

I feel positive about my job:

category subcategory Year % Agree % Other
Overall Overall 2022 65% 35%
Gender All Men 2022 64% 36%
Gender All Women 2022 70% 30%
Gender DND public service employees Men 2022 72% 29%
Gender DND public service employees Women 2022 76% 24%
Gender Primary Reserve Men 2022 79% 21%
Gender Primary Reserve Women 2022 68% 32%
Gender Regular Force Men 2022 55% 45%
Gender Regular Force Women 2022 63% 37%
Component DND public service employees 2022 73% 27%
Component Primary Reserve 2022 78% 22%
Component Regular Force 2022 56% 44%
CAF Rank Overall Junior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 57% 43%
CAF Rank Overall Junior Officer 2022 66% 34%
CAF Rank Overall Senior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 68% 32%
CAF Rank Overall Senior Officer 2022 69% 31%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Junior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 77% 24%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Junior Officer 2022 74% 26%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Senior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 86% 14%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Senior Officer 2022 68% 32%
CAF Rank Regular Force Junior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 52% 48%
CAF Rank Regular Force Junior Officer 2022 61% 39%
CAF Rank Regular Force Senior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 59% 41%
CAF Rank Regular Force Senior Officer 2022 69% 31%

Data Source: Your Say Matters: Defence Team Well-Being Survey (2022)

DND public service employees

I get a sense of satisfaction from my work:

category subcategory Year % Agree % Other
Overall Overall 2020 77% 23%
Overall Overall 2022 75% 25%
Age 24 years and under 2020 81% 19%
Age 24 years and under 2022 78% 22%
Age 25-29 years 2020 73% 27%
Age 25-29 years 2022 67% 33%
Age 30-34 years 2020 77% 23%
Age 30-34 years 2022 71% 29%
Age 35-39 years 2020 74% 26%
Age 35-39 years 2022 75% 25%
Age 40-44 years 2020 75% 25%
Age 40-44 years 2022 75% 25%
Age 45-49 years 2020 74% 26%
Age 45-49 years 2022 76% 24%
Age 50-54 years 2020 77% 23%
Age 50-54 years 2022 74% 26%
Age 55-59 years 2020 77% 23%
Age 55-59 years 2022 75% 25%
Age 60 years and older 2020 82% 18%
Age 60 years and older 2022 81% 19%
Disability Persons with a disability (Total) 2020 71% 29%
Disability Persons with a disability (Total) 2022 68% 32%
Disability Persons without a disability 2020 77% 23%
Disability Persons without a disability 2022 77% 23%
First official language English 2020 76% 24%
First official language English 2022 74% 26%
First official language French 2020 77% 23%
First official language French 2022 77% 23%
Gender Another gender 2020 60% 40%
Gender Another gender 2022 53% 47%
Gender Man 2020 75% 25%
Gender Man 2022 74% 26%
Gender Woman 2020 79% 21%
Gender Woman 2022 78% 22%
Indigenous Indigenous people 2020 72% 28%
Indigenous Indigenous people 2022 74% 26%
Indigenous Non-Indigenous people 2020 77% 23%
Indigenous Non-Indigenous people 2022 76% 24%
Province/territory of work Alberta 2020 74% 26%
Province/territory of work Alberta 2022 71% 29%
Province/territory of work British Columbia 2020 74% 26%
Province/territory of work British Columbia 2022 69% 31%
Province/territory of work Manitoba 2020 75% 25%
Province/territory of work Manitoba 2022 79% 21%
Province/territory of work National Capital Region 2020 78% 22%
Province/territory of work National Capital Region 2022 78% 22%
Province/territory of work New Brunswick 2020 74% 26%
Province/territory of work New Brunswick 2022 73% 27%
Province/territory of work Newfoundland and Labrador 2020 86% 14%
Province/territory of work Newfoundland and Labrador 2022 76% 24%
Province/territory of work Northwest Territories 2020 82% 18%
Province/territory of work Northwest Territories 2022 91% 9%
Province/territory of work Nova Scotia 2020 76% 24%
Province/territory of work Nova Scotia 2022 70% 30%
Province/territory of work Ontario (excluding National Capital Region) 2020 77% 23%
Province/territory of work Ontario (excluding National Capital Region) 2022 77% 23%
Province/territory of work Outside of Canada 2020 93% 7%
Province/territory of work Outside of Canada 2022 77% 23%
Province/territory of work Quebec (excluding National Capital Region) 2020 76% 24%
Province/territory of work Quebec (excluding National Capital Region) 2022 75% 25%
Province/territory of work Saskatchewan 2020 67% 33%
Province/territory of work Saskatchewan 2022 64% 36%
Racialized group Non-racialized, non-Indigenous people population 2022 76% 24%
Racialized group Racialized, non-Indigenous people population 2022 77% 23%
Sexual orientation Does not identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ 2022 76% 24%
Sexual orientation Identifies as 2SLGBTQIA+ 2022 67% 33%

Data Source: Public Service Employee Survey (2020-2022)

CAF members

I am satisfied with the military way of life:

category subcategory Year % Agree % Other
Overall Overall 2022 59% 41%
Gender All Men 2022 59% 41%
Gender All Women 2022 64% 36%
Gender Primary Reserve Men 2022 72% 28%
Gender Primary Reserve Women 2022 71% 29%
Gender Regular Force Men 2022 54% 47%
Gender Regular Force Women 2022 61% 39%
Component Primary Reserve 2022 70% 30%
Component Regular Force 2022 54% 46%
CAF Rank Overall Junior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 50% 50%
CAF Rank Overall Junior Officer 2022 60% 40%
CAF Rank Overall Senior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 65% 35%
CAF Rank Overall Senior Officer 2022 80% 20%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Junior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 67% 33%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Junior Officer 2022 69% 31%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Senior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 64% 36%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Senior Officer 2022 88% 12%
CAF Rank Regular Force Junior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 45% 55%
CAF Rank Regular Force Junior Officer 2022 54% 46%
CAF Rank Regular Force Senior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 65% 35%
CAF Rank Regular Force Senior Officer 2022 74% 26%

I am proud to be in the CAF:

category subcategory Year % Agree % Other
Overall Overall 2022 69% 31%
Gender All Men 2022 68% 32%
Gender All Women 2022 74% 26%
Gender Primary Reserve Men 2022 76% 24%
Gender Primary Reserve Women 2022 80% 20%
Gender Regular Force Men 2022 63% 37%
Gender Regular Force Women 2022 70% 30%
Component Primary Reserve 2022 77% 23%
Component Regular Force 2022 64% 36%
CAF Rank Overall Junior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 62% 38%
CAF Rank Overall Junior Officer 2022 70% 30%
CAF Rank Overall Senior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 69% 31%
CAF Rank Overall Senior Officer 2022 83% 17%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Junior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 81% 19%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Junior Officer 2022 80% 20%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Senior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 65% 35%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Senior Officer 2022 89% 11%
CAF Rank Regular Force Junior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 57% 43%
CAF Rank Regular Force Junior Officer 2022 64% 36%
CAF Rank Regular Force Senior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 72% 28%
CAF Rank Regular Force Senior Officer 2022 79% 21%

I would rate my current individual level of morale as high:

category subcategory Year % Agree % Other
Overall Overall 2022 29% 71%
Gender All Men 2022 30% 70%
Gender All Women 2022 29% 71%
Gender Primary Reserve Men 2022 39% 61%
Gender Primary Reserve Women 2022 26% 74%
Gender Regular Force Men 2022 25% 75%
Gender Regular Force Women 2022 27% 73%
Component Primary Reserve 2022 36% 64%
Component Regular Force 2022 25% 75%
CAF Rank Overall Junior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 22% 78%
CAF Rank Overall Junior Officer 2022 33% 67%
CAF Rank Overall Senior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 32% 68%
CAF Rank Overall Senior Officer 2022 37% 63%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Junior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 23% 77%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Junior Officer 2022 43% 57%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Senior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 40% 60%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Senior Officer 2022 46% 54%
CAF Rank Regular Force Junior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 21% 79%
CAF Rank Regular Force Junior Officer 2022 28% 73%
CAF Rank Regular Force Senior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 28% 73%
CAF Rank Regular Force Senior Officer 2022 32% 69%

Data Source: Your Say Matters: Defence Team Well-Being Survey (2022)

Sentiment towards ability to do job:

These metrics are from the 2020-2021 and 2022-2023 Public Service Employee Survey (PSES), which is sent to all DND public service employees. The PSES Methodological Report provides additional detail about the objective and target population for the survey.

DND public service employees

I have the information, training, and equipment I need to ensure my health and safety at work:

category subcategory Year % Agree % Other
Overall Overall 2020 80% 20%
Overall Overall 2022 80% 20%
Age 24 years and under 2020 87% 13%
Age 24 years and under 2022 93% 7%
Age 25-29 years 2020 82% 18%
Age 25-29 years 2022 77% 23%
Age 30-34 years 2020 82% 18%
Age 30-34 years 2022 80% 20%
Age 35-39 years 2020 78% 22%
Age 35-39 years 2022 78% 22%
Age 40-44 years 2020 80% 20%
Age 40-44 years 2022 80% 20%
Age 45-49 years 2020 80% 20%
Age 45-49 years 2022 80% 20%
Age 50-54 years 2020 81% 19%
Age 50-54 years 2022 81% 19%
Age 55-59 years 2020 78% 22%
Age 55-59 years 2022 81% 19%
Age 60 years and older 2020 81% 19%
Age 60 years and older 2022 80% 20%
Disability Persons with a disability (Total) 2020 73% 27%
Disability Persons with a disability (Total) 2022 71% 29%
Disability Persons without a disability 2020 81% 19%
Disability Persons without a disability 2022 83% 17%
First official language English 2020 80% 20%
First official language English 2022 79% 21%
First official language French 2020 80% 20%
First official language French 2022 83% 17%
Gender Another gender 2020 89% 11%
Gender Another gender 2022 80% 20%
Gender Man 2020 78% 22%
Gender Man 2022 80% 20%
Gender Woman 2020 82% 18%
Gender Woman 2022 82% 18%
Indigenous Indigenous people 2020 76% 24%
Indigenous Indigenous people 2022 77% 23%
Indigenous Non-Indigenous people 2020 80% 20%
Indigenous Non-Indigenous people 2022 81% 19%
Province/territory of work Alberta 2020 78% 22%
Province/territory of work Alberta 2022 75% 25%
Province/territory of work British Columbia 2020 79% 21%
Province/territory of work British Columbia 2022 76% 24%
Province/territory of work Manitoba 2020 75% 25%
Province/territory of work Manitoba 2022 81% 19%
Province/territory of work National Capital Region 2020 82% 18%
Province/territory of work National Capital Region 2022 84% 16%
Province/territory of work New Brunswick 2020 80% 20%
Province/territory of work New Brunswick 2022 77% 23%
Province/territory of work Newfoundland and Labrador 2020 93% 7%
Province/territory of work Newfoundland and Labrador 2022 80% 20%
Province/territory of work Northwest Territories 2020 96% 4%
Province/territory of work Northwest Territories 2022 83% 17%
Province/territory of work Nova Scotia 2020 78% 22%
Province/territory of work Nova Scotia 2022 79% 21%
Province/territory of work Ontario (excluding National Capital Region) 2020 78% 22%
Province/territory of work Ontario (excluding National Capital Region) 2022 75% 25%
Province/territory of work Outside of Canada 2020 85% 15%
Province/territory of work Outside of Canada 2022 81% 19%
Province/territory of work Quebec (excluding National Capital Region) 2020 80% 20%
Province/territory of work Quebec (excluding National Capital Region) 2022 83% 17%
Province/territory of work Saskatchewan 2020 69% 31%
Province/territory of work Saskatchewan 2022 66% 34%
Racialized group Non-racialized, non-Indigenous people population 2022 82% 18%
Racialized group Racialized, non-Indigenous people population 2022 81% 19%
Sexual orientation Does not identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ 2022 81% 19%
Sexual orientation Identifies as 2SLGBTQIA+ 2022 78% 22%

I have the tools, technology and equipment needed to do my job:

category subcategory Year % Agree % Other
Overall Overall 2020 79% 21%
Overall Overall 2022 75% 25%
Age 24 years and under 2020 86% 14%
Age 24 years and under 2022 81% 19%
Age 25-29 years 2020 82% 18%
Age 25-29 years 2022 75% 25%
Age 30-34 years 2020 77% 23%
Age 30-34 years 2022 75% 25%
Age 35-39 years 2020 75% 25%
Age 35-39 years 2022 74% 26%
Age 40-44 years 2020 79% 21%
Age 40-44 years 2022 72% 28%
Age 45-49 years 2020 80% 20%
Age 45-49 years 2022 73% 27%
Age 50-54 years 2020 79% 21%
Age 50-54 years 2022 75% 25%
Age 55-59 years 2020 79% 21%
Age 55-59 years 2022 75% 25%
Age 60 years and older 2020 81% 19%
Age 60 years and older 2022 80% 20%
Disability Persons with a disability (Total) 2020 73% 27%
Disability Persons with a disability (Total) 2022 68% 32%
Disability Persons without a disability 2020 80% 20%
Disability Persons without a disability 2022 77% 23%
First official language English 2020 79% 21%
First official language English 2022 75% 25%
First official language French 2020 79% 21%
First official language French 2022 77% 23%
Gender Another gender 2020 84% 16%
Gender Another gender 2022 77% 23%
Gender Man 2020 78% 22%
Gender Man 2022 73% 27%
Gender Woman 2020 82% 18%
Gender Woman 2022 79% 21%
Indigenous Indigenous people 2020 76% 24%
Indigenous Indigenous people 2022 71% 29%
Indigenous Non-Indigenous people 2020 79% 20%
Indigenous Non-Indigenous people 2022 76% 19%
Province/territory of work Alberta 2020 76% 22%
Province/territory of work Alberta 2022 69% 25%
Province/territory of work British Columbia 2020 78% 22%
Province/territory of work British Columbia 2022 71% 29%
Province/territory of work Manitoba 2020 75% 25%
Province/territory of work Manitoba 2022 74% 26%
Province/territory of work National Capital Region 2020 80% 20%
Province/territory of work National Capital Region 2022 79% 21%
Province/territory of work New Brunswick 2020 78% 22%
Province/territory of work New Brunswick 2022 72% 28%
Province/territory of work Newfoundland and Labrador 2020 90% 10%
Province/territory of work Newfoundland and Labrador 2022 85% 15%
Province/territory of work Northwest Territories 2020 90% 10%
Province/territory of work Northwest Territories 2022 91% 9%
Province/territory of work Nova Scotia 2020 80% 20%
Province/territory of work Nova Scotia 2022 73% 27%
Province/territory of work Ontario (excluding National Capital Region) 2020 79% 21%
Province/territory of work Ontario (excluding National Capital Region) 2022 72% 28%
Province/territory of work Outside of Canada 2020 75% 25%
Province/territory of work Outside of Canada 2022 86% 14%
Province/territory of work Quebec (excluding National Capital Region) 2020 79% 21%
Province/territory of work Quebec (excluding National Capital Region) 2022 76% 24%
Province/territory of work Saskatchewan 2020 80% 20%
Province/territory of work Saskatchewan 2022 65% 35%
Racialized group Non-racialized, non-Indigenous people population 2022 76% 24%
Racialized group Racialized, non-Indigenous people population 2022 81% 19%
Sexual orientation Does not identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ 2022 76% 24%
Sexual orientation Identifies as 2SLGBTQIA+ 2022 71% 29%

Data Source: Public Service Employee Survey (2020-2022)

More information: Canadian Armed Forces Dress Instructions

Context

The Canadian Forces Dress Instructions provide CAF members with direction for dress and personal appearance, what badge and insignia items are authorized for wear, and the methods for wearing all uniforms and insignia.

Recent actions

In September 2022, changes to the Canadian Forces Dress Instructions were made to provide greater inclusivity in the dress and personal appearance of CAF members. Examples of these changes include opening both gender catalogues of distinctive environmental uniforms to all members and removing restrictions on the length of hair. Changes were made in discussion with Defence Advisory Groups, Gender Advisors, and current CAF members.

The update also includes rewording policy with more inclusive and less gendered language. Later phases of the update will change terminology in catalogues and supply manuals and make design changes to the clothing itself. The updated Dress Instructions continue to be reviewed to provide additional clarity, and to include any previously overlooked elements.

Data sources

For details on the methodology of data analysis, including descriptions of each data source, please visit the List of data sources page.

Page details

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