As the coronavirus pandemic continues, a third (30 per cent) of Canadians have altered their career goals, with workers aged 40 and younger more likely to report their goals have changed, according to LifeWorks Inc.’s latest mental-health index.

In addition, the survey, which polled 3,000 working Canadians, found that, although more than two-thirds (68 per cent) said they won’t be making changes to their career, nine per cent said the opposite and 23 per cent are unsure. Of respondents looking to make a change, nearly a third (30 per cent) are considering retraining for a different career, while close to a quarter are considering resigning and moving to a different role (24 per cent) or retiring (21 per cent).

Read: Mental health spiralling as 35% of employees consider leaving job: survey

Respondents considering retraining had the lowest mental-health score (negative 24.6) — 14 points below the national average (negative 10.6) — compared to negative 19.5 for those looking to move to a different role or negative 9.6 for those contemplating retiring.

“Canadians continue to face many challenges, both within and outside of the workplace as a result of the pandemic, across the full physical, mental, financial and social well-being spectrum,” said Stephen Liptrap, LifeWorks’ president and chief executive officer, in a press release. “The decisions being made are largely due to people seeking opportunities to improve their overall well-being. As organizations throughout Canada navigate this complex time, it is critical that employee well-being remains top of mind in retention and as a driver of longer business success.”

Read: Employers continue to highlight mental-health supports, prioritize staff well-being

More than half (51 per cent) of respondents reported their career goals haven’t changed due to the pandemic; they had the highest mental-health score at negative 4.7. However, the third who indicated their career goals have changed had the lowest mental-health score (negative 18.5). Notably, respondents who are managers were 40 per cent more likely than non-managers to indicate their career goals have changed because of the pandemic. And those 40 and younger were 60 per cent more likely than their counterparts aged 50 and up to report their career goals have changed.

Overall, Canadians’ mental-health score improved in February 2022 to negative 10.6 from negative 11.3 in January 2022. Most sub-scores improved over that time, with the exception of optimism (from negative 12.3 in January to negative 12.4 in February) and general psychological health (from negative 4.5 to negative 4.8).

The sub-score for financial risk continued to show the most improvement, increasing from 3.7 to 5.5, with scores for work productivity (negative 12 in January to negative 10.1 in February), isolation (negative 11.6 to negative 10.6), anxiety (negative 12.2 to negative 11.3) and depression (negative 12.9 to negative 12) also rising slightly.

Read: 55% of working Canadians value flexible work arrangements over career progression: survey