Canadians Willing to Take Time Off Work for Gig Opportunities as Major Events Drive Side Hustle Surge

New data shows 2 in 3 working Canadians open to FIFA work would take time off - including unpaid leave - to take part in major events

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As Canada prepares to host major global and national events - from the 2026 FIFA World Cup to the Calgary Stampede - new research from Employment Hero, the global AI-powered employment platform, suggests Canadians aren’t just interested in attending - they’re willing to step away from their day-to-day work to be part of them.

Overall, 14% of Canadians indicated they would likely consider taking on temporary or gig work related to a major event such as the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

Among employed Canadians open to FIFA-related gig work, two in three say they would consider taking time off their primary job to participate in a temporary role, with 28% even willing to take unpaid leave (and 38% using paid vacation).

“Canadians aren’t just casually interested in these opportunities, they’re willing to make real trade-offs to be part of them,” said KJ Lee, CEO of Employment Hero Canada.

“The fact that nearly three in 10 would take unpaid leave underscores that this isn’t just about convenience or spare time. It reflects a deliberate choice to prioritize experience, even when it comes with a financial trade-off. That’s a pretty powerful signal about how meaningful these events have become for many Canadians.”

Six in ten Canadians open to FIFA-related gig work say they would take on this work as a side gig alongside their current job, highlighting a growing appetite for flexible, experience-driven work. While most would treat this as supplemental work, 1 in 10 (11%) say they would temporarily replace their primary job - pointing to a meaningful segment willing to fully immerse themselves in these opportunities.

Among those likely to consider temporary or gig work tied to major events, motivations are split:

• 35% say they want a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience
• 25% say they need extra income to meet living expenses

“At the same time, there’s a very practical reality driving this,” Lee added. “For a lot of Canadians, this is about helping to cover everyday expenses. The demand for flexible, short-term income opportunities continues to grow, and events like this create a unique way to meet that need while also offering a memorable experience.

Employers Have an Opportunity to Plan for Event-Driven Work

As more Canadians look to participate in major cultural events through temporary work, employers may need to consider how to support this interest while maintaining business continuity.

“For employers, this is an opportunity to get ahead of the trend,” said Lee. “Planning for periods of increased time off, along with clear visibility into workforce capacity and coverage across teams, allows organizations to support employee flexibility without losing momentum.

“Organizations that take a proactive and supportive approach may also see stronger engagement and retention - at the end of the day, employees are increasingly valuing flexibility and the ability to participate in moments that matter to them.”

A Defining Moment for Event-Driven Work in Canada

With globally significant events like the FIFA World Cup and iconic Canadian experiences like the Calgary Stampede converging, the country is entering a unique moment for its workforce.

The findings point to a growing trend: Canadians are increasingly blending work with experience - seeking not just income, but participation in cultural moments that don’t come around often.

As Canada gets ready to welcome the world, many Canadians are ready to do more than watch - they’re ready to work the moment.

Notes to editors

About Employment Hero

Employment Hero is the global authority on employment, offering a world-leading Employment Operating System (eOS) that simplifies and optimizes every stage of the employment process. Its award-winning platform combines HR, payroll, recruitment, and employee engagement tools with the groundbreaking employment superapp, EH Work, which integrates career management and financial wellbeing. Serving over 350,000 businesses and managing more than 2.5 million employees worldwide, Employment Hero reduces administrative burdens by up to 80%, enabling organizations to focus on their goals and create more productive, engaged teams. By revolutionising the employment marketplace, Employment Hero is making employment easier, more valuable and rewarding for everyone.

Survey Methodology

These findings are from a survey conducted by Employment Hero from April 17th to April 21st, 2026, among a representative sample of 1500 online adult Canadians who are members of the Angus Reid Forum, including 203 who would likely consider temporary work during events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The survey was conducted in English and French. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/-2.5 (total sample) / +/-6.9 (likely to consider work sample) percentage points, 19 times out of 20.