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Considering that most of us will spend more than 40 years of our lives in employment, it’s not hard to see why a satisfying career is so important to our overall sense of wellbeing.

A recent survey from the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that more than 60% of Australians are dissatisfied with their industry and many are looking to make a change in their working lives. If this sounds familiar to you, here are five signs that you might be ready for a career change.

1. You feel bored and unfulfilled

Even if you started out loving your career, it’s possible that your interests have changed or evolved over time, and a new career can help bring that spark back. Of course, we all have bad days or even weeks when we’d rather be anywhere but at work, but if you feel bored and unfulfilled on a daily basis, it’s probably time to start looking into other options.

2. Your skills are underutilised

Research has found that one of the biggest influencers of job satisfaction is the opportunity to utilise skills and abilities, so if you’re currently not able to use your main strengths, whether they are communication skills, computer and technical literacy or leadership abilities, a career that will give you a chance to excel in those specific areas might be more satisfying.

3. You feel overstressed

Job stress is a major contributor to employee dissatisfaction, so if you constantly feel overwhelmed at work or ill-equipped to deal with the demands of your job, you might want to move into a career that allows you to work in a less stressful environment, has more flexible working hours or offers you more on-the-job support.

4. Your personal situation has changed

Sometimes, a career that was right for you when you first started out simply doesn’t fit into your life anymore. Your personal situation may have changed and you may need a career that offers more flexibility or financial stability, or maybe you now have children and simply don’t have as much time to devote to your work as you did in the past.

5. Your industry is shrinking

Changes in technology and demand can sometimes cause an industry to shrink or even die off, so if predictions are that your industry will shrink or you’re seeing many of your colleagues being laid off due to declining employment opportunities, you may want to get a head start and begin looking for new career opportunities in other industries.

If any of these signs resonate with you and you’re interested in learning more about how to take the plunge and make a career change, check out our career change guide for step-by-step advice on everything from how to get started to finding your purpose.

Most importantly, remember that it’s never too late to turn things around and follow your dreams.