Job Satisfaction Statistics

Job Satisfaction Statistics

Last Updated: December 2024

Job satisfaction statistics have become a critical factor in finding out more about employee well-being and organizational success. 

According to recent findings from the Pew Research Centre, approximately 51% of surveyed workers report being generally content with their current jobs. Interestingly, this satisfaction rate rises significantly to 76.3% among those with no plans to seek alternative employment. 

However, contrasting these figures, an alarming 85% of respondents in a Gallup worldwide employee survey anonymously expressed dissatisfaction with their current roles. These statistics underscore the complexity of job satisfaction, reflecting both positive and concerning trends in today’s workforce.

1. Job Satisfaction Key Statistics

  • A strong majority (77%) of employees say their coworkers are very happy with their own work performance.
  • 55% of US workers are likely to look for new jobs within the next year.
  • 36% of employees worldwide said they were in love with their current jobs.
  • 75% of employees left their jobs owing to managerial disagreements.
  • Remote employment is preferred by 32% of respondents globally.
  • In the United States, 60% of employees will be satisfied with their occupations in 2023.
  • By the end of 2023, almost 61% of American employees will have left their current jobs. 
Job Satisfaction Statistics (2)

2. Job Satisfaction Rate

  • The majority of workers, around 89.05%, anticipate at least three benefits from their employer.
  • The most common workplace perks employees like are: a regular 5-day work week (75.33%), having flexible work hours (74.54%), and getting yearly pay increases (81.10%).
  • Over 60% of workers say good colleagues are key to job happiness.
  • A whopping 90% of workers need a respectful work environment to be satisfied.
  • GoodFirms research shows more than half (over 56.68%) of employees worldwide are happy in their jobs.
  • Not everyone is happy – around 30.15% of employees globally are unhappy according to GoodFirms, with another 13% unsure. 
  • Over 70.87% of workers consider fair treatment at work to be essential.
  • A Gallup survey found only 34% of employees in the United States feel engaged at work.
  • The US’s job satisfaction stats are slightly higher than the global average and better than Canada’s (just 19%).
Job Satisfaction Statistics (3)

When participants were asked about how satisfied they were with their jobs, they gave answers: 

Level of Satisfaction

Percentage of Employees

Satisfied / Very Satisfied 

77%

Neutral

16%

Unsatisfied / Very unsatisfied

7%

Source: MyPerfectResume

2.2. How many people like their job?

Below is the table showcasing the rate of ‘job happiness’ based on various aspects: 

Category

Sub-Category

Percentage

Gender

Female

83%

Male

71%

Age

25 or younger

83%

26–40 years old 

70% 

Industry

Education

86%

Software/IT 

84%

Business & Finance

69%

Work Experience

6+ years 

82%

1–2 years 

66% 

Company Size

201–500 employees

90%

11–50 employees

69%

Education

Bachelor’s degree 

81%

No college degree

64%

Source: MyPerfectResume

2.2. How many people feel secure in their job? 

Level of Security in their job

Percentage of people

Secure/Very Secure

64%

Neutral

22%

Insecure/Very Insecure

14%

Source: MyPerfectResume

[Back to top]

3. Job Satisfaction Statistics By Profession

Job Title

Satisfaction Score

Recruiting Manager

4.6

Dental Hygienist

4.5

Sales Operations Manager

4.5

Product Designer

4.5

Marketing Assistant

4.3

Construction Manager

4.3

Brand Manager

4.3

Data Scientist

4.3

Customer Success Manager

4.2

HR Coordinator

4.2

Source: StandoutCV

[Back to top]

Job Satisfaction Statistics

3.1. Job Satisfaction Statistics in Medical, Science, and Academia

    • Nearly three-quarters of Russians in education or scientific research report that their work brings them joy.
    • In Germany, 30% of physicians derive satisfaction from patient gratitude and the relationships they build.
    • In France, 62% of physicians are satisfied with their work due to their high level of competence.
    • In the US, 27% of rheumatologists find fulfillment in their work or in solving diagnostic puzzles.
    • A significant portion of pediatricians in the US (38%) find patient gratitude to be the most rewarding aspect of their job.
    • 56% of young healthcare workers believe that integrating artificial intelligence would enhance their workplace satisfaction.
    • In 2019, 64% of French doctors were generally satisfied with their professional situation.
    • A significant majority (81%) of Russian workers in science and education are dissatisfied with their current salaries.
    • In the US, being a teaching assistant is considered the happiest job, with a BlissScore of 3.658.

3.2. Job Satisfaction Statistics in Technology

    • 65% of developers globally reported being either very satisfied or slightly satisfied with their job.
    • 70.2% of developers worldwide consider the languages, frameworks, and technologies they use at work as the most important job factor.
    • More than half of the developers surveyed stated that company culture is their top priority.
    • 76% of Polish IT workers said their job brings them joy.

3.3. Job Satisfaction in White Collar Professions

    • Only 68% of Russians whose jobs require them to monitor teamwork are happy. 
    • 34% of legal services professionals are happy with their employment because they are good at them. 
    • 54% of pilots plan to change employment within the next 12 months. 
    • 69% of Russian civil servants and non-profit workers are fully or somewhat dissatisfied with their current salary. 
    • 37% of Russian purchasing professionals are either moderately or completely happy with their present salaries.

[Back to top]

4. Workplace Dissatisfaction Statistics

  • According to a recent Gallup survey, only 34% of employees in the United States are engaged in their work.
  • 79% of people leave their jobs because they feel undervalued.
  • As many as 65% of employees in North America complained about a manager’s failure to recognize hard work even once every 12 months.
  • According to research, up to 75% of workers who leave their positions do so because they are dissatisfied with management, mostly because a lack of respect is now highlighted by up to 72% of employees.
  • Only 12% of workers quit their employment in search of higher pay.
  • 73% of employees are willing to stay with a company that provides skill development chances.

[Back to top]

5. Work Satisfaction Statistics Based on Age

  • 83% of the employees who are 25 years and younger and 70% of the employees between 26 and 40 are satisfied with their jobs. 
  • Millennials are 3x more likely to quit their jobs.
  • While 43% of millennials anticipate changing professions over the next two years, only 28% plan to stay in their current positions for more than five years.
  • Approximately 31% of employees aged 18 to 29 say they are entirely pleased with their jobs.
  • 51% of workers aged 18 to 24 favor higher pay above job security.

Age Group

Level of Satisfaction

18-29

31%

30-49

42%

50-64

49%

Source: Zippia

[Back to top]

6. Job Satisfaction Statistics by Region

A) Europe

    • In Sweden, 47% of respondents stated they would be equally satisfied with their jobs in 2021 if they continued to work from home.
    • Workers in Trentino-South Tyrol reported the highest level of job satisfaction in Italy, at 8.
    • Workers in the Basilicata region reported a job satisfaction score of 7.1. This is the lowest in all of Italy.
    • Most Spanish workers (42.3%) are content with remote employment. 
    • 38% of Polish workers believe doing their jobs properly is recognized and appreciated.
    • On a scale of 1 to 10, Hungarians ranked their job satisfaction at 7.1.

B) Asia-Pacific

    • Meanwhile, 23.54% of Saudi adolescents said they were satisfied, while 12.52 percent said they were not content. 
    • 46% of South Korean professionals said that a meaningful job or occupation makes them happy.
    • Only 33% of Chinese workers said that meaningful employment brought them the most enjoyment.
    • Nearly half of Indians stated that meaningful employment or a job brings them the most happiness.
    • Asia has the lowest job satisfaction rating in the Global Employee Engagement Index, with 6.9
    • Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Singapore are the most developed countries in East and Southeast Asia with work satisfaction ratings below 7.
    • India has the highest job satisfaction rating in the region, with 7.9

C) America and Africa

    • North America has the highest job satisfaction rating in the world at 7.7
    • South America follows closely with a job satisfaction rating of 7.6.
    • In Mexico’s BPO/KPO—ITO industry, the work environment is the greatest contributor to talent retention, accounting for 30%.
    • Africa’s job satisfaction rating is 7.3.

[Back to top]

7. Job Satisfaction Statistics By Country

Country

Percentage

India

91%

Argentina

82%

United States

80%

Germany

77%

China

76%

United Kingdom

74%

France 

73%

Japan

48%

Source: Flair

[Back to top]

8. Factors Influencing Job Satisfaction

  • 72% of workers find job variety and the chance to learn new skills make their work more satisfying.
  • 65% of professionals consider challenging work that tests their limits as crucial for job satisfaction.
  • 79% of employees say clear opportunities for career progression greatly impact their job satisfaction.
  • 60% of younger employees (ages 18-34) see a clear career path as essential for job satisfaction, compared to 45% of those aged 50 and above.
  • 75% of workers believe ongoing training opportunities boost job satisfaction.
  • 88% of employees feel positive relationships with colleagues enhance job satisfaction.
  • 82% of workers report that a supportive supervisor significantly improves their job happiness.
  • 70% of employees think regular, constructive feedback from their supervisor enhances job satisfaction.
  • 90% of workers state that fair compensation is linked to job satisfaction.
  • 92% of workers believe a strong, positive organizational culture increases job satisfaction.
  • 95% of employees consider work-life balance a key factor for job satisfaction.
  • 76% of employees believe the ability to work remotely, when needed, enhances their job satisfaction.

[Back to top]

9. Impact of Remote Work on Job Satisfaction

  • Employees who are pleased with their workplace are 87% less likely to leave.
  • Employees that are highly satisfied with their jobs are 31% more productive.
  • Productivity increases by 20-25% in firms with networked personnel.
  • Companies with engaged staff experience a 65% decrease in attrition.
  • 85% of employees feel more engaged when their coworkers actively encourage and support them.
  • A 10% increase in perceived meaningful work predicts lower absenteeism and a 60% increase in job satisfaction.
  • 70% of employees rated being able to take action when a problem arises as an important engagement factor.
  • 77% of remote workers report greater job satisfaction.
  • 32% of remote workers feel that the most major benefit is a flexible schedule.

[Back to top]

10. Career Satisfaction Statistics

  • One-third of persons with annual wages less than $25,000 had job satisfaction percentages below 50%.
  • The clergy had the greatest job satisfaction percentage in the sector, with 90%.
  • According to work satisfaction statistics, teachers and healthcare employees rate job meaningfulness at up to 96%, whereas many higher-paid individuals such as CEOs earn 74%.
  • Only 5% of parking lot attendants consider their jobs important, making them feel they have tiny yet meaningful careers in the business. Other low-level jobs include game supervisors (20%) and fabric and garment pattern makers (about 25%).
  • Only 39% of restaurant and dry-cleaning staff report great job satisfaction.

[Back to top]

11. Job Satisfaction by Sector

A study in 2023 found that in the US, company culture affected how happy employees were with their jobs for 42% of workers in private companies. Interestingly, happiness at work was higher in other sectors like non-profits (65%), government (67%) and self-employed people (62%).  The study also found that overall engagement with work in the US was between 30% and 40% in 2023. 

Below is the table showcasing the level of satisfaction by sector:

Sector

Percentage of Satisfaction

Profit

42%

Non-Profit

65%

Government

67%

Self-Employed

60%

Source: Zippia

[Back to top]

12. Job Satisfaction Statistics by Compensation

  • Any employee earning over $75,000 per year has an average work satisfaction percentage of 59%.
  • Due to the financial problems of living in poverty, just 39% of employees are pleased with occupations that pay less than $30,000 per year, even if the positions are important.
  • 54.2% of American employees would leave their current job for higher pay.
  • Salaried workers are more satisfied with their jobs (41% vs. 29% for hourly workers).

[Back to top]

13. Job Satisfaction Based on Different Factors

Aspect

Level of Satisfaction

Respect

72%

Meaningfulness

35%

Salary

20%

Autonomy

18%

Opportunity

15%

Recognition

12%

Source: Zippia

[Back to top]

13.1. Job Satisfaction Based on Benefits Offered

Benefits 

Level of Satisfaction

Health Benefits

45%

Vacation/PTO

38%

Retirement or pension plan

37%

Parental Leave

20%

Source: Zippia

[Back to top]

14. FAQ’s

14.1. What percentage of people truly love their work?

Nearly half (45%) of American workers report feeling satisfied or very satisfied in their jobs.

14.2. How many Americans are satisfied with their jobs?

A 2019 survey by the Conference Board found that about 49% of employees worldwide are satisfied with their jobs, though this number varies across different surveys.

14.3. Which job has the highest satisfaction rate?

In 2019, recruiting managers were ranked as having the highest job satisfaction, with a score of 4.6 out of 5 stars. Although the median base salary is around $70,000, satisfaction comes from factors beyond pay. This role suits extroverted individuals with strong leadership skills, as it involves managing interviews and hiring processes.

[Back to top]

Conclusion

In conclusion, while the Global Employee Engagement Index reports a global average job satisfaction score of 7.1, with North America leading at 7.7, it’s important to remember this is just an average. There are significant variations by region and even within countries. This highlights the importance of factors like company culture, which studies show can impact up to 42% of job satisfaction in certain sectors. 

Group-6098@2x.png

Looking For A Remote Job?

We can help you kickstart your journey in the world of remote jobs.

Intersection-2@2x.png