“Work, work, work, work, work, work! He said me haffi work, work, work, work, work, work!” In the wise words of Rihanna, we’ve all got to work. Unless you inherit millions of dollars, win the lottery or have no desire to pay for food and rent, you’re going to be stuck in the grind just like the rest of us. And unfortunately, contrary to what our parents tell us when we’re children, most of us don’t actually end up having our “dream jobs.”
According to the Pew Research Center, only 51% of workers in the United States are highly satisfied with their jobs. And when it comes to specific aspects of their careers, their opinions greatly vary. Two thirds of employees are very happy with the relationships they have with their colleagues, yet only one third are pleased with the opportunities that they have for promotions.
The Pew Research Center reports that 62% of American workers are happy with the relationship they have with their manager or supervisor, but only a third are satisfied with their salaries. At the same time, 59% are happy with the commute they have to get to work, and only 49% are satisfied with the benefits their employer provides and the amount of feedback they receive about their job performance.
It turns out that older employees are the most likely to view their jobs positively, as two thirds of workers 65 and older say they’re very satisfied. And unsurprisingly, those who are earning more are also more likely to view their jobs in a positive light. But many people consider their careers to be key parts of their lives, as 39% of workers say their job is “extremely or very important” to their overall identity.
When it comes to what employees would like to see to improve their view of their jobs, Pew reports that employer-sponsored benefits can be very important. These may include paid time off for vacations and medical appointments, as well as health insurance, retirement programs, access to remote work and more. 62% of employees in the US believe that paid time off is extremely important, despite the fact that nearly half of these workers don’t actually use all of the PTO that they’re entitled to.
Growing up, I had a variety of “dream jobs.” First, I believed I wanted to be a photographer. Then, when we adopted an Australian Shepherd, I wanted to run a dog rescue when I grew up. I also considered being a professional tennis player and a famous actor. Perhaps even a stand-up comedian! My dreams were all over the place. But according to JobSage, only 1 in 10 Americans actually gets to have a career doing their dream job. And 70% of workers in the US admit that they’re not on track to ever have their dream jobs.
When it comes to why most of us don’t achieve our dream jobs, JobSage reports that 53% of workers don’t believe that their dreams are actually fit for the current economy. Perhaps being an artist will make some money, but not enough to afford rent and food. The top 5 dream industries that people want to work in are technology, entertainment, art and design, healthcare and writing or journalism. These are all incredibly competitive fields that have far less job opportunities than there are workers who want them, so landing a job probably does feel like a dream!
I sincerely hope that none of you pandas out there hate your jobs, but if you do, I understand. I have had jobs that filled me with anxiety and stress every single morning before clocking in. And the feeling of walking on eggshells during my entire shift felt like torture. If you feel the same way about your job, The Muse has some tips for how to get through it until you have the opportunity to jump ship. First, they recommend assessing the situation and trying to figure out exactly what’s making you miserable. Is it your boss? Your colleagues? The hours or salary? Try to pinpoint what you hate.
