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Only 45% are happy, the lowest level recorded by the Conference Board since 1987.
Ottawa (7 Jan. 2010) - A new survey finds that job satisfaction among American workers has fallen to a record low. A majority are now unhappy at work.
Only 45% of respondents expressed satisfaction with their jobs, the lowest level recorded in 22 years of studying the subject by the Conference Board. The previous low was 49% in 2008.
Canadian workers were not covered by the survey but similar trends are often reflected in both countries. However, one significant difference between Canada and the U.S. is universal public health care. Canada has it and Americans don't.
The rising cost of private health care in the U.S. was cited as a significant contributor to worker unhappiness.
The drop in happiness is also being attributed in part to the recession – the worst since the 1930s – which has made it more difficult for workers to find challenging and suitable jobs.
However, dissatisfaction has been on the rise for more than two decades, a trend that also coincides with flatlining wages and a decline in the influence of unions in American workplaces.
"It says something troubling about work in America," says Conference Board spokesperson Linda Barrington, who helped write the report. "It is not about the business cycle or one grumpy generation."
The study cites several reasons for the rise in dissatisfaction:
- Fewer workers consider their jobs to be interesting.
- Incomes have not kept up with inflation.
- The soaring cost of U.S. health insurance has eaten into workers' take-home pay.
- Only 43% of workers feel secure in their jobs, down from 47% in 2008 and 59% in 1987.
- 56% like their co-workers compared to 57% in 2008 and 68% in 1987.
- 44% are dissatisfied with their commute to work, compared with with 46% in 2008 and 37% in 1987.
- 49% are dissatisfied with their boss, up from 45% in 2008 and 40% two decades ago.
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