Associated Press economics writer Jeannine Aversa recently chronicled the steady decline of workforce satisfaction, reporting that less than half of Americans (45%) are satisfied with their jobs. This is the lowest rating in the two-plus decades the Conference Board research group has studied the issue; and it represents a significant drop from 2008’s rating of 49%. For comparison, 61% were satisfied two decades ago.
Blame is more guesswork than science. Likely culprits include:
• An economy that has caused workforce compromise (note: Any job is better than no job, but in some cases not much). Pay has flattened out, too.
• Skyrocketing health care costs, which are eating take home pay with ravenous hunger.
• Worker boredom (note: This can be shared by those riding both sides of the employment teeter-totter: workers and employers). Only 51% find their jobs interesting, the lowest rating in 22 years. In 1987, nearly 70% felt challenged.
Worker dissatisfaction has been rising for more than two decades and its impact could be severe. As boomers cycle out and retire, why would a disgruntled worker care about who follows? Negativity also drags along additional burdens; it diminishes ambition, growth, and competitiveness.
“It says something troubling about work in America,” says Linda Barrington, managing director of human capital at the Conference Board. She helped write the report. “It is not about the business cycle or one grumpy generation.”
Economists and Conference Board officials suggest weak wage growth helps explain why workers’ unhappiness has been rising for two decades. I think the problem is more complex.
We were spoiled by a long, sustained economic run-up that fueled record consumption and overspending. Now we find ourselves accountable, by the millions, for cleaning up that fiscal irresponsibility.
The health insurance mess—a national fiasco and global embarrassment—has led us to where three times as many workers contribute to the cost of their health insurance as did a generation ago; and those contributions continue to climb.
Workers under 25 expressed the highest level of dissatisfaction, roughly 64%. The recession has been hard for them. Facing fewer opportunities and lower wages, far too many entered the workforce unprepared and wearing rose-colored glasses.
Welcome to a dose of reality and a competitive landscape that demands and expects consistent hard work.
Ours is no longer an entitlement landscape. Business does not award trophies for showing up. Many young workers prefer to try a job, rather than commit to one, and too many boomers have grown soft driving a desk and collecting a check while adding little or no value. As corporate vices tighten, the plumpest grapes are the first ones squished.
The most satisfied? Ages 25-34, a segment poised for career advancement as baby boomers continue to retire. But their ratio of happy workers is not particularly robust, either. A mere 47% enjoy what they’re doing.
Some other key findings:
• Job security: DECLINING. Two out of five workers feel secure in their jobs. A decade ago half felt secure. Two decades ago it was three out of five.
• Co-worker satisfaction: DECLINING. Barely half of people (56%) like their co-workers. Two decades ago, people liked more than two-thirds of those they worked with.
• Getting along with the boss: DECLINING. Half like their boss, half don’t. Two decades ago three out of five liked him or her.
As sobering as these statistics are, veiled sunshine may hide behind them. Perhaps this is a wakeup call for all of us recommit to what we’re doing or seeking, to push back on negativity, and lead by positive example.
A job is what we do to pay the bills; our life is what we do with the rest of the money. If a job is broken, fix it. If it can’t be fixed, replace it. Staring out a window is waste of time, for you and the person paying you to do things far more important than looking out it.
Life is wonderful but passes in the blink of an eye. Stay positive, and grateful, and make your workplace better for all.