You might have heard the saying “do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” But in reality, not everyone has the luxury of only working jobs they enjoy. Many people take what they can get. To pay the bills. Others start out loving their jobs, only to change their mind a few days, months or even years down the line.
Recent research found that only about half of Americans are extremely or very satisfied with their job overall. 5,902 U.S. workers took part in the survey last year. Most were not self-employed. Older workers (those over the age of 65) were most likely to love their job. And be happy with their manager, daily tasks, and opportunities for growth. promotion at work. They also are more likely to say they find their job to be enjoyable and fulfilling all or most of the time. Only 44% of those between the ages of 18 and 29 genuinely enjoyed their jobs.
They say money can’t buy happiness but it seems it can buy job satisfaction. The survey found that those with higher salaries were more likely to love their job than lower and middle income workers. They were also much more likely to have access to company benefits like paid time off, health insurance, and retirement programs.
A separate survey found 76% of U.S. workers reported at least one symptom of a mental health condition. Burnout was top of the list, followed by depression and anxiety. The vast majority said their workplace conditions had contributed to their mental health challenges.
Half of all those polled said they’d left a previous position in order to preserve their mental health. But it’s the younger generation that seems most affected. 81% of Gen Z workers had quit a job because it affected their wellbeing.
