MAYNARD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Monster.com, the leader in successfully connecting people to job opportunities and flagship brand of Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:MWW), and GfK, an independent global market research company, today released new international survey data comparing country-level job satisfaction. The study reveals U.S. workers falling exactly in the middle of the rankings with Canadian workers the most content.
| Country |
Love it/Like it a lot
% |
Don’t Like it/Hate It
% |
||
| 1. Canada | 64% | 7% | ||
| 2. Netherlands | 57% | 7% | ||
| 3. India | 55% | 5% | ||
| 4. US | 53% | 15% | ||
| 5. UK | 46% | 12% | ||
| 6. France | 43% | 9% | ||
| 7. Germany | 34% | 10% | ||
Five percent of workers in India claimed to dislike/ hate their jobs, while Canada and Netherlands tied for second (both at 7%). Though the survey indicated just over half of the US workers enjoy their work, the results also indicated that 15% didn’t like or hated it, the highest among all surveyed countries. The UK was a close second at 12%.
Key Facts
- Two-thirds of Canadians are content with their jobs
- One in ten Brits (11%) love their jobs so much they would do them for free
- Just under half of French workers (48%) like their job only ‘well enough for now’, while nearly one in ten (9%) don’t like, or hate, their current role
- 55% of Indian workers love or like their jobs a lot
- 3% of Dutch workers truly hate their jobs but think it’s a necessary evil
- Two in ten Americans (22%) love their jobs so much they would do them for free, while 15% Dislike their jobs - highest among all surveyed countries
- More than half of German workers (54%) like their job only ‘well enough for now’ and a mere 5% truly love their jobs
“What is striking about the findings is that the strength of a country’s labor market doesn’t necessarily correlate with workforce contentment. While workers in challenged markets may have had fewer opportunities to advance in terms of promotions or salary during the recent downturn, it has not necessarily affected their happiness, “said Chris Moessner, Vice President for Public Affairs, GfK. “Clearly there are many variables when it comes to job satisfaction – for example, Canada and Germany have enjoyed buoyant labor markets, yet they lie at completely different ends of the happiness spectrum some of which could be driven by broader cultural differences between the two countries. More generally though, workers internationally want more out of their work and seem to have just settled for their current jobs.”
A closer look at the U.S. findings reinforces this. The following responses were received to the question “Which of the following best describes how much you love your current job?”
| 22% | Love it – Would do it for free | |||||||
| 31% | Like it a lot – You enjoy what you do, but you could like it more | |||||||
| 31% | Like it – You like it well enough for now | |||||||
| 6% | Don’t like it – You think you could do better | |||||||
| 10% | Don’t love it at all – but it is a necessary evil | |||||||
Does Money Really Buy Job Happiness?
The research reveals that America’s lowest paid are the most likely to be unhappy at work, with more than one in five (21%) of workers paid under $50,000 confessing that they dislike or hate their jobs. In contrast, only one in ten (10%) of those earning over $50,000 feel as negatively about their jobs, and nearly two thirds (63%) of higher earners say they love or like their jobs a lot.
“The survey findings suggest that U.S. workers on the lower end of the pay spectrum tend to be the least content with their jobs – and really, it is very much part of the American dream to be upwardly mobile,” said Joanie Ruge, employment industry advisor and Senior Vice President of Monster. “Regardless of what a worker’s priorities are – being challenged, feeling valued or even making more money – it’s important for anyone who is not in love with their jobs to remain vigilant about finding better.”
Northeast and Western U.S. are the happiest
When splitting the results regionally, the survey reveals that workers in the Northeast are the most satisfied with their jobs. Three in five (60%) of workers in the Northeast say they love or like their jobs a lot, while those in the West are close behind, with 59% reporting similarly positive feelings about their jobs. Workers elsewhere aren’t so thrilled with their employment: only 48% in the Mid-West and 46% in the South report being happy at work.
About the Survey
Surveying over 8,000 people in Canada, France, Germany, India, Netherlands, UK and US, this survey was conducted using GfK’s GLOBOBUS, a monthly global omnibus study.
In the United States, the data was collected using dual-frame telephone methodology, to maximize participation and representativeness of respondents, including younger and older adults as well as landline and cell phones. The total sample size for this study is 1,007. For questions only asked of working Americans, the weighted sample size is 511.
About GfK
GfK is one of the world’s largest research companies, with more than 13,000 experts working to discover new insights into the way people live, think and shop, in over 100 markets, every day. GfK is constantly innovating and using the latest technologies and the smartest methodologies to give its clients the clearest understanding of the most important people in the world: their customers. In 2012, GfK’s sales amounted to €1.51 billion. To find out more, visit www.gfk.com
GfK Public Affairs & Corporate Communications is a division of GfK. The group specializes in customized public affairs and public opinion polling, media and corporate communications research, and corporate reputation measurement in the US and globally. In addition to delivering a broad range of customized research studies.
About Monster Worldwide
Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:MWW), is the global leader in successfully connecting job opportunities and people. Monster uses the world's most advanced technology to help people Find Better, matching job seekers to opportunities via digital, social and mobile solutions including monster.com®, our flagship website, and employers to the best talent using a vast array of products and services. As an Internet pioneer, more than 200 million people have registered on the Monster Worldwide network. Today, with operations in more than 40 countries, Monster provides the broadest, most sophisticated job seeking, career management, recruitment and talent management capabilities globally. For more information, visit about-monster.com.
