Education, disrupted: Embedding career education in shifting learning pathways
January 12, 2026
CERIC welcomes new Graduate Student Engagement Program cohort
January 12, 2026By 2040, mental health will not be a side concern in the world of work – it will define employability and human flourishing. One in two Canadians experience a mental health challenge by age 40, and the economic cost exceeds $51 billion annually (CAMH, 2024). Mental illness is the leading cause of workplace disability, with nearly half a million employed Canadians missing work each week. These realities call for a new vision of career development grounded in well-being.
As a counsellor-in-training, I have witnessed how anxiety, burnout and uncertainty shape people’s career hopes. Professional struggles often mirror deeper challenges with self-worth or meaning. These experiences remind me that mental health and career development are inseparable; both rely on a sense of purpose, balance and connection.
COVID-19, climate anxiety and financial stress have amplified emotional strain, especially among youth and women. Research shows that 40% of young people have needed mental health support, yet 41% report unmet needs (CERIC, 2024). Growing numbers are rejecting the “always-on” work culture that undermines wellness. Movements like the four-day workweek and “Bare Minimum Mondays” reflect a search for sustainability over constant productivity.
For career development professionals (CDPs), these shifts are transformative. Their role must expand beyond job readiness to include mental health literacy and trauma-informed awareness. Many clients now face anxiety, grief or burnout that limit meaningful engagement. CDPs need to listen with empathy, recognize when to refer for specialized care, and collaborate with mental health and social service professionals. Career conversations will increasingly focus on healing, identity and resilience.
Technology is also reshaping well-being at work. Artificial intelligence and wearable devices can track mood and stress, offering early insights but raising privacy concerns. CDPs will need to interpret such data ethically and advocate for fairness in digital workspaces.
Work structures are becoming more flexible as Canadians seek balance between ambition and health. Shorter workweeks and sabbaticals can boost productivity while reducing stress (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2023). CDPs can help clients set boundaries and redefine success through purpose rather than performance – fostering a more humane vision of professional life.
Moving forward
CDPs must also care for their own well-being. Bearing witness to others’ struggles can cause compassion fatigue if not balanced with self-reflection and support. By modeling balance and self-care, practitioners show that maintaining wellness is not indulgent – it is ethical responsibility.
In 2040, career development will not be measured only by employment rates but by human well-being. The rise of mental health challenges is not just a crisis – it is an invitation to reimagine our relationship with work. When CDPs help clients align ambition with inner peace, work becomes not just a way to earn, but a way to live well.
Sevgi Cin is pursuing a master’s in psychotherapy and spirituality at St. Stephen’s College. She integrates psychology, spirituality and education in her counselling practice, focusing on mental health, resilience and the role of purpose in personal and professional growth.
References
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (2024). Mental health statistics in Canada. Retrieved from https://www.camh.ca/en/driving-change/the-crisis-is-real/mental-health-statistics
Canadian Mental Health Association. (2023). Workplace mental health and productivity. Retrieved from https://cmha.ca/what-we-do/national-programs/workplace-mental-health
Canadian Education and Research Institute for Counselling (CERIC). (2024). Career development in 2040: 10 major changes impacting the futures of work and workers in Canada. Retrieved from https://ceric.ca/2024/01/career-development-in-2040-report
Seligman, M. E. P. (2018). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. New York, NY: Atria Books.