This article assesses changes in the distribution of time to major gro
ups of daily activities in Canada between 1981 and 1992, and identifie
s social groups which have been exposed during this period to the grea
test pressures of paid and unpaid work. The article examines, in parti
cular: (a) trends in the allocation of time to paid work, domestic wor
k, combined loads of paid and unpaid work, personal needs, and free ti
me; (b) the changing composition of domestic and free time activities;
and (c) Canadians' subjective perceptions of being pressed for time c
ompared to the not so distant past (five years ago). Trends in the use
of time and perceived time pressure are controlled for gender and lif
e cycle situation. An attempt is made to relate the changes in the use
of time to larger social and economic trends, and to outline policy i
mplications of the findings.