Job Satisfaction Research

Job Satisfaction Research Results

Americans are not very satisfied with their jobs. In fact, research shows that about one-quarter of the workforce reports that they are just "showing up to collect a paycheck." According to research conducted for the Conference Board, only about half of all Americans report being satisfied with their jobs. Of this 50 percent, only 14 percent report being "very satisfied."

Money Isn't Everything

The Conference Board job satisfaction research reports that earning more money does not necessarily make an employee happy. Whether an employee earns $50,000 or $15,000, only about half report being satisfied with their job and a relatively small percentage are very satisfied:

• Employees earning $50,000 or more – 55 percent report being satisfied with their jobs but only 14 percent claim they are very satisfied.
• Employees earning $15,000 or less – 45 percent report being satisfied, but only 17 percent say they are very satisfied.

Reasons For Job Dissatisfaction

The Mayo Clinic reports the key reasons for job dissatisfaction include:

• Conflict with other employees or with the supervisor
• Not paid enough
• Lack of promotional opportunity
• Don't have the necessary resources to succeed
• Minimal input in decisions
• Fear of job loss because of down sizing or outsourcing
• Work is boring
• Work does not fit education, skills or interests

What to Do If Your Job Makes You Unhappy

Quitting a job is not always the best solution if you are in an unhappy job situation. You might be able to change the aspects of the job that make you unhappy – or change the way you look at the job.

• Identify the real reason for your unhappiness. Finding the key reason is important if you are going to find a way to solve the problem. Job dissatisfaction can be from a combination of reasons.
  • Conflict with other employees could stem from comparing yourself to them and deciding that you are not earning enough for what you do or for your educational level.
  • Conflict with your supervisor could be from a basic fear that you are going to lose your job or from your feelings that you are not able to participate in job decisions and responsibilities.
• Get some perspective. Being deeply involved in an unhappy job situation can make the dissatisfaction even greater and make it harder to decide what you need to do to feel better about the job. Talking to people outside of the job about your feelings may help you see the situation in a different way.
• Think how you approach your work. People usually approach their work as a job, a career or as a calling. You need to know your primary job motivation before you can determine what you need to do to improve your satisfaction.
  • Job Approach – If you approach your work as a job, your key focus is on the money you earn.
  • Career – Work approached as a career means you are interested in career advancement.
  • Calling – If you job is a calling, your focus is on the work more than the salary or the career opportunities.
• Determine ways to increase your satisfaction. Create an action plan of what you want to do to increase your satisfaction. Your plan might include:
  • Talking with your supervisor
  • Asking for increased responsibility
  • Asking for training
  • Improving your skills
  • Asking for a raise
  • Asking for a new project
  • Mentor a co-worker to restore the challenge
  • Changing your perspective
  • Talking with a career counselor to assess your next steps
  • Evaluating other jobs and careers that fit your skills and working style
• Take action. Implementing your action plan will move you towards creating a more satisfying job environment.

You Can Improve Your Job Satisfaction

Understanding what you want from a job and thinking through what is not satisfying about a job are the key steps in improving your job satisfaction. Half of Americans are not satisfied with their jobs, but the other half are satisfied. Consider this statistic proof that you don't have to quit your job to change an unhappy situation. Sometimes introspection, planning and action can turn job dissatisfaction into job satisfaction.