25+ Job Satisfaction Statistics 2024: Average Job Satisfaction

Job satisfaction is a concern in the wake of the global pandemic.

Since the lockdowns where hundreds of thousands to millions of businesses either closed for several months, or closed their doors permanently, the state of job satisfaction has been skewed.

The following job satisfaction statistics will show you some pre-pandemic, during pandemic, and post pandemic facts and figures.

Right now, there are millions of people out there seeking work.

Some are looking for new careers in the wake of the pandemic, while others are looking for jobs in general.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking to get into a new career, just out of college, or getting your first job, things are tough in today’s job market for many people.

Job satisfaction isn’t solely about feeling passionate about what you do, though that is helpful, it’s also about job security, and safety.

Let’s dig into some data that tells us how people are feeling about their jobs and work.

Key Job Satisfaction Statistics 2024

• A Gallup poll reveals that 49% of those surveyed said they are completely satisfied with their jobs.
• In 2019, job satisfaction hit an all-time high of 93%, according to a Gallup poll.
• Employee engagement is up by 6% since 2000, but down by 4% since 2020.
• In 2022, 17% of employees were disengaged in their work.
• The number one cause of employee dissatisfaction is insufficient pay.
• As of 2023, 61% of employees are thinking about leaving their jobs.
• In Japan, 60% of workers experience job dissatisfaction.
• A Deloitte survey in 2022 shows that among Millennials, 38% say they will stay in a job for over five years. 
• 97% of employers in the United States claim to feel somewhat responsible for their employee’s financial wellness.
• 70% of employees say that recognition in the workplace enhances their connections at work and prompts them to feel happier at home.

Essential Job Satisfaction Statistics 2024

This section will include some general statistics related to job satisfaction. 

1. A Gallup Poll Reveals that 49% of Those Surveyed Said They Are Completely Satisfied with Their Jobs.

Gallup’s chart of employee satisfaction polls range from 1993 to 2022.

In 2022, employees’ response options included “Completely satisfied”, “Somewhat satisfied”, “Somewhat dissatisfied”, “Completely dissatisfied”, and “No opinion”.

This data is generalized as overall satisfaction in the job. It’s based on adults working part-time or full-time as employees.

Here are the 2022 responses:

• Completely Satisfied”: 49%
• Somewhat Satisfied: 39%
• Somewhat Dissatisfied: 8%
• Completely Dissatisfied: 4%
• No Opinion: 0%

Nearly half of the adults surveyed said they are completely satisfied and another 39% said they are somewhat satisfied. Therefore, 88% of employees are satisfied with their jobs. 

(Gallup)

2. In 2019, Job Satisfaction Hit an All-Time High of 93%, According to A Gallup Poll.

We saw that job satisfaction was 88% in 2022, but in 2019, job satisfaction was at 93% between completely and somewhat satisfied responses.

Also, only 8% were somewhat or completely dissatisfied in 2019 compared to 12% in 2022.

Keep in mind that 2019 figures were pre-pandemic, while 2022 are somewhere between during pandemic to post-pandemic depending on the region of the United States of the employees.

In 2020, smack amid the lockdowns, employee satisfaction was at 89%, and dissatisfaction was at 11%.

In 2021, during the pandemic in general, employee satisfaction was at 87% and dissatisfaction was at 14%. 

If we measure the dissatisfaction figures, in 2021, employees were more dissatisfied with their jobs than in 2019, 2020, or 2022.

In 2011, job dissatisfaction was at 18% and job satisfaction, 83%.

(Gallup)

3. Employee Engagement Is up By 6% Since 2000, but Down by 4% Since 2020.

The good news is that employee engagement has risen yet fluctuated since 2000.

In 2022, employee engagement is at 32% among full-time and part-time employed adults.

In 2020, employee engagement was at 36%, which was up from 34% in 2018. 

In 2021, employee engagement was at 34%, which means 2022 has slipped a few notches in employee engagement since 2020.

Interestingly, employee engagement was at 30% in 2002, 2006, and 2012, respectively. 

COVID-19 is likely the culprit in the most recent decline in employee engagement across all industries and types of work.

Engaged employees are satisfied employees. 

(Gallup Workplace)

4. In 2022, 17% of Employees Were Disengaged in Their Work.

Whether they claimed to be satisfied at work or not, 17% of employees said they were not engaged in their work in 2022.

This percentage shows up in 2002, 2004, and 2014. Coincidentally, the percentage of engaged employees were similar (30%, 29%, 31%, 32%).

The engagement decline occurred in late 2021 when the pandemic was still fresh in the minds of workers.

Healthcare suffered the biggest engagement decline, while remote and hybrid workers enjoyed higher engagement. 

The data suggests that companies that prioritize or focus on their work culture and the wellbeing of their employees achieve higher engagement levels, which results in higher rates of satisfaction. 

Being engaged is also related to feeling passionate about your work.

(Gallup Workplace)

5. The Number One Cause of Employee Dissatisfaction Is Insufficient Pay.

While the general statistics make job satisfaction look high, the dissatisfaction factor is due to lack of good pay.

Burnout from being overworked and the lack of good healthcare benefits were close behind pay.

According to a survey of over 4,000 full-time employees in the United States, roughly one in three employees who are making under $60,000 per year claim they have taken second jobs to supplement their incomes.

Not only are these things creating workplace dissatisfaction, it is also putting a strain on employer loyalty. 

(SHRM)

6. As of 2023, 61% of Employees Are Thinking About Leaving Their Jobs. 

Remember the 2020 Great Resignation? Apparently, that isn’t exclusive to the pandemic like originally believed.

CensusWide and LinkedIn surveyed 2,000 workers in the United States about their career plans for 2023, and they discovered that 61% of them are thinning about leaving their jobs.

Now, the “Great Resignation” is believed to be a trait of Millennials and Gen Z generations.

In fact, 66% of Millennials and 72% of Gen A employees are considering a change in careers in 2023.

They are not alone with 55% of Gen X and 30% of Baby Boomers considering career changes in 2023.

None of this should come as a surprise since the figures for dissatisfied Millennials were higher even before the pandemic, and Gen Z workers are more dissatisfied than Millennials at work. 

Many of these individuals considering a career change are feeling the need to become their own bosses with gig economy, freelancing, and consulting careers. 

(WRAL TechWire)

7. In Japan, 60% of Workers Experience Job Dissatisfaction.

While most of the data we are researching is focused on the United States, we discovered that job satisfaction is only 40% in Japan.

The NIKKEI Asia article says that 60% of Japanese workers are unhappy in their jobs. 

It’s only been about five years since the Japanese government passed their “work style reform initiatives”, so it could take more time to see it become more fruitful for employees in the country.

In 2020, Japanese workers worked an average of 1,685 hours for the year, which is less than in 2010. 

(NIKKEI Asia)

8. A Deloitte Survey in 2022 Shows that Among Millennials, 38% Say They Will Stay in A Job for Over Five Years.

We already mentioned that job dissatisfaction is driving Millennials to change careers or leave their jobs in 2023.

A 2022 survey revealed that 38% of Millennials said they will stay for over five years in a job. 

In contrast, 24% said they would leave within two years.

In 2021, the percentage of those who would leave within two years was 36%, and of those who would stay beyond five years at a job was 34%.

The figure for those leaving within two years declined among Millennials. 

The worst thing about those who are considering leaving their jobs is that many are in face-to-face jobs where there are already massive labor shortages. 

(Deloitte 2022)

9. 97% of Employers in The United States Claim to Feel Somewhat Responsible for Their Employee’s Financial Wellness.

According to the Bank of America 2022 Workplace Benefits Report, 97% of employers feel responsible for an employee’s financial wellness in some way.

Additionally, 8 in 10 employers believe that being supportive of employee financial wellness has many benefits. 

Employee satisfaction is at the top of that list followed by improving employee loyalty, enhancing employee engagement, increasing employee productivity, and encouraging employee performance. 

Another 62% of employers feel extremely responsible for employee financial wellness. 

(Bank of America 2022)

10. 70% of Employees Say that Recognition in The Workplace Enhances Their Connections at Work and Prompts Them to Feel Happier at Home.

One simple, yet effective way to improve employee satisfaction is to implement an employee recognition program.

When you reward employees for their dedication and hard work, they appreciate that. 

According to employees where there is a recognition program, they feel happier at home and more connected to their coworkers.

However, that’s not all an employee recognition program can achieve.

Employee recognition is known to enhance employee satisfaction, enjoyment at work, increase engagement and productivity, reduce employee turnover, improve work and team culture, increase employee retention, improve company loyalty, and reduce absenteeism and stress. 

If you own a business, consider an employee recognition program. Remember, a little appreciation and recognition can go a long way.

(iOffice, Quantum Workplace)

Job Satisfaction Statistics by Profession

Employee satisfaction is a complex, multifaceted ideal that differs across professions, type of workplace environment, and other factors.

In this section, we will discuss statistics as they relate to professions. 

11. According to Payscale, Cartographers and Photogrammetrists Enjoy the Highest Job Satisfaction Rate in The United States, at 97%.

Cartographers and Photogrammetrists win the job satisfaction prize, at 97%.

What do they do?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Cartographers and Photogrammetrists gather, measure, and interpret geographic data for the creation of and updates for charts and maps used for regional education, planning, etc. 

These careers also have a relatively high meaning rate at 80% as a meaningful job.

The average pay for those working in these careers is $63,100 per year. 

After these careers, the job satisfaction rates are 90% or over for these careers:

• Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas: 93% job satisfaction, 80% meaningful job, average pay $60,400 per year.
• Clergy: 90% job satisfaction, 98% meaningful job, average pay $43,600 per year.
• Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators: 90% job satisfaction, 69% meaningful job, average pay $56,600 per year.

Remember that even if a job isn’t ranking well as a meaningful job, anything you love to do is meaningful. 

(Payscale, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

12. Payscale Shows that Job Satisfaction Among Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters Is the Lowest at 35%

We know where people are the most satisfied with their jobs, but what about where they are the least satisfied?

According to the statistics, it’s among Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, in the Metal and Plastic industry. 

People working in this career work what they categorize as “dirty jobs”.

These highly trained and skilled workers set up, operate, and/or tend to lathe and turning machines used to form, thread, bore, turn, or face plastic or metal materials like rods, bar stock, and wire.

It’s very hard and somewhat dangerous work.

The meaningful job percentage is only 32% and the average pay is at the low end at $34,000 per year.

Whether it’s the work itself or the low pay, these employees don’t experience much job satisfaction.

However, those who work in this industry may be passionate about their jobs even if they aren’t satisfied in the jobs.

(Payscale, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2)

13. Postsecondary Teachers Have the Highest Job Satisfaction Rate Among All Academic Careers, at 83%. 

We hear a lot about how unhappy teachers are about the amount of work they must do for such low pay, but in the realm of teaching, Postsecondary Teachers have the highest job satisfaction at 83%.

This career also scored an 83% as meaningful, but the average annual pay of $50,800 seems low. 

Obviously, Postsecondary Teacher enjoy what they do despite the pay.

What do they do? This sector of teachers instructs students across multiple subjects beyond high school.

They often work in public and private universities, colleges, community colleges, junior colleges, professional and technical schools, etc.

They mostly work full-time, but part-time work in this career is common.

The outlook for this career is faster than average at 12% growth in the coming years. 

 (Payscale, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 3)

14. Job Satisfaction Among Computer and Information Scientists Is 78%.

The highest job satisfaction in the computer tech industry is in the Computer and Information Scientists, Research sector at 78%.

This career field is given a 45% score for a meaningful job, but the average annual pay is $101,000. 

Computer and Information Scientists and Researchers design inventive uses for existing and new computing technology.

We aren’t convinced that it’s only 45% meaningful. 

Between 2021 and 2031, this career is expected to grow by 21%, which is a lot faster than the average growth for occupations. 

 (Payscale, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 4)

15. U.S. News Ranks Software Developer the Best Job in America for 2023.

U.S News says that being a Software developer is the best job in American in 2023.

They said that the reason this job was chosen for the number one best job is because of its variety of factors. 

What do Software developers do? These are the people who invent the very technologies we usually take for granted.

For instance, your smartphone alarm app and the music or sounds you use to wake up in the morning.

What about your email, calendar, and music apps? How often do you use your email at work, or your calendar app to keep track of your schedule?

What about your music app? Do you take these apps for granted that they will just be there for you as needed?

Without software developers, you wouldn’t have practical, entertaining, fun, or functional apps to improve your life.

The rate of growth in this occupation is 26% between 2021 and 2031, which is much faster than the average growth of other occupations. 

(U.S. News)

Job Satisfaction Statistics Worldwide

In this section, we will discuss how job satisfaction is across the world.

16. In Europe, Employee Engagement Is only 14%.

The overall European employee engagement is only 14%.

Usually when employees aren’t engaged, they are less productive and are not likely to enjoy a high job satisfaction rate.

According to Gallup’s 2022 global report, 42% of Europeans say they are living comfortably on their current income.

Among workers in Europe, 20% of those 40 years old and younger say they are likely to relocate.

Also, 44% of Europeans say now is a suitable time to find a job. Anong the male population, 48% think it’s a suitable time to find a job.

(Gallup 2022)

17. Globally, Only 21% of Employees Are Engaged at Work. 

Notice that at the global level, 21% of employees are engaged at work.

The 14% rate of engagement at work among European workers is 7% lower than the global rate.

Before the global pandemic, job engagement had been on the rise. For now, that progress is almost frozen.

While job engagement rose by 1% in 2021, it was still lower than job engagement in 2019, at its peak.

Looking at it at the global level, there were differences according to region.

In New Zealand and Australia, there was a 6% increase among those who were thriving in the workplace, but Europe experienced a 5% decrease.

The good news is that worldwide workers are more engaged at work today than in 2009 when it was 12%.

Being engaged at work is a crucial element of job satisfaction. When workers are ready to seek out new employment, job satisfaction is low.

(Gallup 2022)

18. The Job Market in Canada and The United States Has Seen Better Recovery than Other Regions.

In 2022, the most promising regions for job opportunities are in the United States and Canada.

In fact, these regions are leading the world in opportunities at 71%.

Regardless of the challenges, Canada and the United States are still the best places to work.

This region is number one in job opportunities and in employee engagement. Also, it is number two in living comfortably and wellbeing among employees.

This is despite the employees of this region being some of the most stressed and concerned employees on the planet.

Why is this important? Because it all impacts job satisfaction no matter where you live and work.

(Gallup 2022)

19. Japan Has the One of The Lowest Rates of Job Satisfaction in The World.

In Japan, the job satisfaction rate among employees is at 42%.

This data is from Randstad Workmonitor where over 13,600 employees in 34 countries were polled in late 2019.

These are the most recent figures for job satisfaction in Japan.

In this survey, Japanese employees has the lowest rate of job satisfaction over the other 34 countries.

In this same survey, 21% of Japanese employees said they were dissatisfied, which is the highest of results compared to the 34 surveyed countries.

These results for Japan are believed to be due to the cutthroat nature of Japanese workplace culture.

In fact, the Japanese government had to pass laws to stop bullying and abuse in the workplace. 

We know that work environment correlates directly with job satisfaction. 

(World Economic Forum)

20. In 2021, Statista Revealed that Job Satisfaction in China Was at 56%.

The mainland China 2019 survey showed that 56% of employees felt their jobs were fulfilling.

The idea of job fulfillment is considered one of the most essential elements for job satisfaction in China. 

According to PWC however, due to the expansion of hybrid work styles in the country, job satisfaction has improved.

Employees in China have even more options from which to choose than the global norm. 

Currently, 64% of employees in the country have more options for remote and hybrid work compared to the global percentage of 54%.

Additionally, 95% of Chinese employees prefer the mix of hybrid and remote work compared to the global figure, which is 88%

(PWC, Statista)

Bonus Statistics 

21. Remote Workers Experience the Highest Level of Job Satisfaction and Are More Optimistic than On-Site Employees 90% to 82%.

The ADP Research Institute conducted a study of the global workforce that uncovered that remote workers enjoy a higher level of optimism at 89% compared to their on-site counterparts at 77%.

Optimism results in higher productivity and job satisfaction. Also, remote workers tower over their on-site workers by 8%.

The results of the study showed that 90% of remote workers are more satisfied with their jobs than 82% of their on-site counterparts. 

Remote employees are so happy and satisfied with their jobs, that 64% would look for a new remote job if they were asked to go back to office life.

Even 28.3% of hybrid workers enjoyed their work environment compared to 21.6% of in-office employees.

(ADP Research Institute 2022, Tech.co)

22. 49% of Employees Claim that Being Given More Responsibilities and Work without Extra Pay Lowers Job Satisfaction.

It makes sense that when someone is given more work and more responsibilities without a raise in compensation, they will feel less happy at work, resulting in lower job satisfaction. 

The fact is that almost half of those surveyed (49%) said that this very aspect of work would lower job satisfaction.

That represents 1 in 10 employees who are not satisfied with their current job.

If you’re an employee, how would you respond to taking on more work for the same pay? As a company, is the lack of skilled workers creating this problem?

(ADP Research Institute 2022)

23. Optimism in The Workplace Seems to Be on The Rebound Going Into 2023.

In North America, which includes the United States and Canada, optimism in the workplace is 85% compared to the 77% in 2021, and the 79% in 2020.

This data shows that employees are feeling more optimistic about their jobs. Optimism is good for job satisfaction and morale.

Likewise, in Europe, optimism in the workplace is back to its 2020 figure of 78% in 2022 and higher than the 2021 figure of 71%. 

While North America and Europe are rebounding, Latin America is still working on it and the Asia-Pacific region is stable. 

(ADP Research Institute 2022)

24. 60% of Millennials and Gen Z Claimed They Saved Money by Working from Home.

A staggering 60% of Gen Z (adults 18 to 24) and Millennial (adults 25 to 40) workers said that working remotely saved them money over their commute.

They also reported that it helped them financially in general. 

While the percentages are lower among Gen X workers (adults 41 to 56) at 54% and Baby Boomers (adults 57 to 75) at 47%, remote work has certainly made its savings known to many workers.

Some of the savings experienced due to remote work includes fuel and maintenance for vehicles and eating out for lunch every day.

Also, they have reported that they get more time to spend with family and doing things they enjoy doing.

(Bankrate)

25. Women Are More Apt to Leave Their Job for One that Is More Flexible at 44%.

Women value work-life balance more than men, which is evident when women are more willing to quit one job to take one that offers better flexibility options.

In fact, women are 44% likely to change jobs for better flexibility than men at 39%. 

While that’s not a huge gap between the genders, it’s still significant in the scheme of things.

Men (40%) are more apt to leave a job for a higher-level position than women (30%). 

The least common reasons that workers would consider changing jobs include the commute (24%) and extra perks (27%) like an on-site daycare, gym, or other services.

(Global Newswire)

FAQs

Conclusion

It’s important to realize that job satisfaction is an ideal that fluctuates. It’s especially volatile in the United States.

The reason for these fluctuations include the complex reasons that different people from diverse backgrounds, age groups, and genders have at any given time. 

The global pandemic had a massive impact on the world’s global job satisfaction rates, so they halted until now.

Some regions of the world are still recovering, while others are recovering quickly, but new data has yet to be available.

In other words, there are many factors that go into what job satisfaction means to workers.

For some, making more money is their motivation and gives them job satisfaction.

There are also people who enjoy making a difference in their community or the world, which contributes to their job satisfaction.

Others are just happy to have a job at all. 

It’s challenging to measure with any precision job satisfaction.

We have the facts, figures, numbers, and data, but that doesn’t include the human factor all the time.

Even surveys and polls can be skewed by workers who don’t want to complain or share their opinions.

What does job satisfaction mean to you?

We hope this job satisfaction statistics guide has given you the information you need to understand job satisfaction and how it impacts the workplace. 

Sources

ADP Research Institute 2022	Bank of America 2022	Bankrate
Delcoitte 2022	Gallup	Gallup Workplace
Gallup 2022	Global Newswire	iOffice
Payscale	PWC	Quantum Workplace
SHRM	Statista	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 3	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 4
U.S. News	World Economic Forum	WRAL TechWire