The Everest College Workplace Blues Survey found that 59 per cent of Canadians said 2009 was mediocre at best with one quarter calling it either "a downer" or downright "depressing." In Ontario, figures were higher than the national numbers with 66 per cent indicating the year was mediocre at best and 30 per cent calling it a downer or depressing.

The biggest causes of the blues among employed Canadians are the economy (29 per cent) and work (26 per cent). Family matters (15 per cent) and threat of illness such as H1N1 (14 per cent) has 29 per cent of employed Canadians singin' the blues. Nearly three quarters of employed Canadians (74 per cent) said they suffer work-related blues at least occasionally – and that number has risen 11 per cent in just three years. Nearly one in five say they suffer frequently.

Employed Canadians say the most depressing thing about work is stress (26 per cent); juggling work and family (24 per cent) and pay (14 per cent). More than a third of Canadians (37 per cent) consider their work simply a job as opposed to a career that gives them opportunity for growth and advancement. Unfortunately 61 per cent say they are not optimistic about getting promoted, slightly higher than last year (57 per cent).