Are you happy with your job?

Job satisfaction statistics will give us the answer.

Let’s look at the stats right away:

  • Only 20% of American employees feel enthusiastic about their jobs.
  • Only 55% of Americans are either satisfied or fully satisfied with what they do.
  • 33% of the American workers think that they are at their career’s dead end.
  • 21% of employees are very keen to change their careers.
  • 63% of the employees feel more committed to their organization when their employers treat them with respect. 
  • 32% of the employees feel pressured to not take any time off.
  • 70% of the employees say they feel more driven to work hard when they get a vacation for a week or so.
  • 95% of American employers think that their financial wellness packages are effective to reach the company goals.

I have some great news for you.

The US is currently seeing its lowest unemployment rates in many years! According to unemployment statistics, states released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the trends are at their 50-year low (since 1969). It is expected the average to be around 3.5% in 2020. The number will reach 3.6% in the next year. So people must be pretty happy, right?

Weeeell…Job satisfaction stats don’t exactly align with the aforementioned numbers.

The job market continues to remain highly competitive. More and more new skills are in demand due to the ever-changing technology and automation processes in all sectors. You’d think that people will be constantly hunting for new jobs and working their butts off.

Nope.

According to a survey, the labor force participation rate has dropped to 62.9%. And this rate is at its lowest since 1979.

So what’s the deal with job satisfaction? 

Job Satisfaction Statistics

Recent studies have shown that high job satisfaction results in increased productivity. Therefore, if your employees are happy they really make a difference.But how many Americans are truly satisfied with their work?

1. Approximately 49% of Americans are fully satisfied with their jobs.

As job satisfaction statistics show, almost half of the Americans are fully satisfied with their workplaces. 3 out of 10 employees say that they are satisfied. 9% are somewhat dissatisfied while 6% are fully dissatisfied. Many of the highly satisfied workers are exceptionally skilled and educated.

2. 59% of the employees say that they have to work for their current employer for more than 3 years.

A significant number of employees say that they have been working with their current employer for more than three years. Additionally, 22% of the older millennials between 30 and 37 have been with their current employer for more than 7 years.

3. 42% of the employees in America say that expanding their skills is a top priority when choosing an employer.

Almost half of the American employees say that developing their skills at work and learning new ones is their top priority when choosing a job. This is second to the number of employees - 48% - who consider health insurance as the most important job benefit.

4. Training and development is a top reason for 86% of millennials to stick with their jobs.

Employee motivation statistics show that 86% of Generation Y workers will be happy if their employers provide them with opportunities like training and career development. Workplace statistics show that engaged employees are likely to stick to their jobs. They are also more eager to learn new skills.

5. 52% of the US employees looked for new jobs in 2019.

Employee loyalty statistics show more than half of the US workers looked for new jobs in 2019. And 54% of them started their current job just a year ago. The employee dissatisfaction statistics show that employees are looking for new jobs because they think they are not being rewarded for the work they are doing. This calls for effective HR and employee engagement strategies.

6. Almost 60% of American employees prefer a job they like over a job they don’t like.

Productivity statistics show that more than half of the American workers like to do a job that they like and they are more likely to replace it with a job that they don’t like. According to HR statistics, this fact is even applicable even if they are getting more from the job they dislike as compared to the job that they like.

7. 72% of employees think that better work benefits increase job satisfaction.

According to turnover statistics, more than 72% of the employees say that better work benefits increase job satisfaction considerably. Medical insurance is highly sought after and so is dental insurance. Employee engagement statistics show that the work benefits desire but don’t get are remote working, incentives and performance bonuses, catered meals, transportation allowances, reimbursements against student loans.

8. 51% of the US employees view that their job gives them a sense of identity.

Еmployee development statistics show that more than half of the US employees say that their job gives them a sense of identity. But the remaining half only considers their jobs as a way of income, corporate wellness statistics prove.

9. 79% of American workers say that company culture is an important job satisfaction element.

According to company culture statistics, almost 80% of American workers think that company culture is very important. For 57% of them it is a must-have feature. Job satisfaction stats also highlight that they are likely to switch to another job with a better company culture.

Work Satisfaction Statistics

Work satisfaction is the fundamental pillar of a long term career in any company. The following figures will reveal the current work satisfaction level of employees. 

10. More than half of the CEOs think that corporate culture boots productivity as well as profitability.

Productivity stats underline the fact that more than 50% of the American CEOs think company culture is a must. It boosts the productivity and profitability of a company. It also provides an opportunity for the employees to grow and an environment in which they can develop and contribute more towards their company’s overall goals.

11. The employees who are unhappy with their superior are 4 times more likely to go to interviews with potential employers.

Employee turnover statistics indicate that if a current worker rates their employer low then there is a significant amount of chance that they are looking for other opportunities. If they know they have a chance to land a job with another prospective employer, they begin to show discontent with their current work.

12. More than 21% of the workers who think that they are not rewarded for their efforts have done an interview with another employer in the past 3 months.

Job satisfaction rates indicate that over 20% of the workers have had an interview with another employer in the past 90 days because they don’t feel that they are being rewarded or recognized for their efforts. According to employee engagement statistics, 12.4% of the workers also go for an interview during this time period even if they are being recognized at their workplace.

13. Over 80% of the HR professionals in American companies say they have an employee-recognition or workplace wellness program in place.

Workplace wellness statistics show that almost 90% of HR professionals agree that such programs can contribute and may even increase employee retention. And they believe that it is more than a program. A good majority of them say that their companies consider it their managerial practice.

14. Even if they are satisfied with their jobs, 59% of the people are willing to switch if an appealing offer comes their way.

This is alarming news for any American employer! The profitability and productivity of an organization will suffer - they have invested so much into their employees only to see them go after a short period. As per the career satisfaction statistics, at least a 20% increase in the salary justifies an employee to make their move and shift their jobs.

The following facts would explain when and how quickly an employee starts a new job hunt.

15. 15% of the employees say that job hunting should carry on even if an individual is fully satisfied with their job.

According to job satisfaction statistics, 15% of American workers say that one should always be on a job hunt no matter how satisfied you are with your job. 80% of the full-time workers in America are either passively open to any new opportunity or are actively looking for one.

These numbers from work satisfaction surveys are quite shocking for employers. Their resources and time are at stake when they invest so much in workers that still open to new opportunities. This indicates that they are not entirely loyal to their current workplaces.

16. 86% of the employees and employers say that lack of communication and collaboration leads to workplace failures.

According to job satisfaction statistics, a majority of employees and employers think that workplace failures occur due to the lack of communication and collaboration. 

17. More than 45% of the new employees apply somewhere else when they have a bad day at the office.

Retention stats show that even if they are new and they understand it will take some time to get adjusted to a new environment, they still apply somewhere else following a bad day. They are not looking to improve on the situation or learn from it. Instead, they start thinking about looking for a new workplace right away.

Key Takeaways

Job satisfaction statistics show that almost half of the US workers are not happy with their jobs. They either don’t get the recognition for their efforts or they don’t get their performance benefits. Being rewarded or recognized for efforts at the workplace significantly improves overall job satisfaction. It also greatly increases employee retention.

Many of the employees don’t feel respected at their workplaces which is another reason for job dissatisfaction. However, work benefits continue to be the driving force for any employee to remain loyal to their job.

Retention statistics show that there are a small number of employees who believe in carrying on with their job hunt either passively or actively. They believe in looking for new opportunities if it serves them better than the current one.

According to employee retention statistics, employers need to develop various employee engagement and retention strategies to safeguard their investment and time. 

Employee retention stats also show that work benefits, company culture, and training and development opportunities are some of the most important tools to explore here.