Education & Employment
People with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) face major challenges when it comes to employment and income. Across Canada, close to 41% of people with MCS are unable to work, compared to 24% of the general population. Additionally, 30% report experiencing workplace hostility, versus 20% among those without MCS. Despite these barriers, many affected individuals are well educated — about 34% of those not working hold a post-secondary or university degree, compared to 24% in the general population.
People with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) face greater work-related challenges than the general population. About 41% are unable to work compared to 24% overall, and 30% report workplace hostility versus 20% of others. Despite this, 34% of those not working have post-secondary education, showing that MCS affects individuals across all education levels. Data sourced from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) 2020
This represents a significant economic impact. An estimated 450,000 Canadians with MCS are unable to work (CCHS, 2020). If employed, they could have earned an average of $56,000 per year (Statistics Canada, 2022), resulting in a potential loss of between $22 – $25 billion in earned income each year. This figure does not include the added costs of lost tax revenue, disability benefits, or productivity losses from absenteeism and reduced job performance.
Financial challenges are also reflected in income levels. Nearly 65% of Canadians with MCS have annual incomes below $40,000, compared to 52% of the general population, and about 41% live below the poverty line (earning under $20,000 annually), compared to 26% in the general population.
These findings highlight the significant social and economic impacts of MCS, both for individuals and for society as a whole.