Job Satisfaction Statistics: How Important Is It for Americans?

It is no secret that job satisfaction statistics are a great resource for employers wishing to gain a more detailed insight into the inner workings of their organizations. This is because happy employees really make a difference in any company.

Retaining high-performing workers is continuously becoming more and more challenging due to fierce competition, low unemployment, and expensive turnover.

That said, it’s clear that engaged and satisfied employees bring a plethora of benefits to their organizations.

According to career satisfaction statistics, workers who come to work every day prepared to achieve set goals, solve problems on the go, and battle the challenges of their profession aren’t just the driving force behind their organization. They are the ones who help it grow and evolve.

So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.

Top Career Satisfaction Statistics: Editor’s Choice

  • Nearly 75% of employees quit their boss, not their job.
  • 79% of employees would refuse a higher-paying job from a company that failed to act against sexual harassment.
  • 45% of employees believe they have gained weight at their current job.
  • More than one-half of all American workers are disengaged at work.
  • Workers whose input is encouraged and appreciated are four times as likely to be more productive.

General Job Satisfaction Stats

It’s up to employers to demonstrate to their workers that they prioritize employee engagement and wellness, that they reward dedication and hard work, and, most of all, that they truly care.

Keep reading to learn more about our list of job satisfaction statistics for 2020 to masterfully deploy a winning staff engagement strategy and bring your employees’ happiness levels up by several notches.

1. Less than 50% of employees trust their companies.

Trust is a two-way street. Sadly, this trait seems fading nowadays among employers and employees in general.

According to one of the more striking stats on job satisfaction, a mere 46% of employees have “a great deal of trust” in their employers.

Additionally, 15% of employees also say they either have “very little” or “no trust at all.”

The remaining 39% stated they harbor “some trust” toward their respective companies. This report confirms the lack of enthusiasm among employees worldwide.

At the same time, there is clearly room for improvement on both sides.

2. Every four in five job-seekers consider an optimum blend of workplace values.

A good salary or fair pay is certainly the most important reason to work for a company. It’s also one of the best-known facts about job satisfaction.

Conversely, only 61.2% view fair payroll as extremely important, job satisfaction rates reveal. That’s despite the fact that this is important to everyone,

Perhaps even more surprising is that it is only somewhat important for a considerable 31.8% of employees, merely okay for 6%, and even not that important for 1%.

Meanwhile, recent job searching statistics reveal that 80% of employees prefer job benefits and perks over pay raises. It seems that it’s not just all about the money.

3. Nearly 90% of employees expect at least three major job perks from an employer.

As far as statistics on job satisfaction go, employers shouldn’t neglect the significance of job perks and benefits. According to the report, just over 81% of employees deemed bonuses or an annual raise as their most expected company perk.

Similarly, among the most important non-wage benefits for 76% of the participants is working five days a week. It is because people regard it as vital to improving their productivity and maintaining a work-life balance.

4. Approximately 51% of Americans get a sense of identity from their job.

According to statistics on job satisfaction in America, close to 51% of participants stated that their jobs are central to who they are, versus 47% that stated their job is simply what they do for a living.

At the same time, the same percentage of US workers say they view their jobs as a career. On the other end of the spectrum, 30% say it is just a job to get them by, and 18% see it as a stepping stone to a career.

5. Around 60% of Americans today feel their jobs are secure.

According to the most recent stats on job satisfaction, Americans continue to be very confident in their job security. This is contrary to the scenario in the early 1980s.

More than 60% of working Americans today cite that they are unlikely to either lose their job or experience layoff in the following year.

Conversely, according to employment satisfaction statistics, only 5% say this is very likely to happen, 7% state it is fairly likely, and 28% say it is not too likely.

The likelihood of job loss also varies among different types of workers. 23% of temporary workers say they are either fairly or very likely to become jobless in the next 12 months.

Comparatively, only 8% of those who describe their jobs as permanent positions say the same.

6. More than one-half of all American workers are disengaged at work, job satisfaction statistics reveal.

According to USA job satisfaction statistics, the number of disengaged workers is now more than 50% of all US employees. Disengaged employees are those that sleepwalk through their day without passion or energy.

This can not only affect the workplace negatively but also cause offices to become toxic and entire companies to lose their competitive edge.

Luckily for employers, there is a way to not just help engage team members but also boost their productivity. And that’s to invest in the company’s overall culture.

7. According to statistics on American job satisfaction, nearly 75% of employees quit their boss, not their job.

It goes without saying that the type of boss can significantly impact an employee’s job satisfaction rate. More often than not, managers turn out to be the root of the problem.

According to a recent report, close to three-quarters of employees who quit their job may not actually do so because of the job itself. Instead, they quit because of their boss.

The manager’s position is not for the faint-hearted. However, through constant communication, recognition of employees’ hard work, bringing fun to the team, and encouraging work-life balance, you can be good at it.

Awareness of the latest job satisfaction statistics will also come in handy.

8. Around 43% of engaged employees receive feedback at least once a week.

Job happiness statistics show that the more hard-working and engaged employees receive feedback on their activities, the better and more productive they become.

It is no surprise then that 43% of engaged employees receive feedback at least once a week, while only 18% of those with low engagement get the same.

While the ball is certainly in the employer’s (manager’s) court here, keep in mind that waiting indefinitely to talk to an employee who’s struggling will neither fix the problem nor inspire them to feel better.

9. Job satisfaction stats suggest that 42% of Americans would switch jobs for a flexible work environment.

As technology continues to evolve, the remote work future is becoming more and more of a reality.

A study by Globe Newswire found that employed Americans could be much more open to a job that is further from home but offers remote capabilities compared to a job that’s closer to home but requires more frequent on-site work.

The numbers confirm the correlation between remote work and employee satisfaction.

According to these stats, 42% of Americans would have no issue switching jobs for a flexible work environment, whereas less than 24% would agree to switch their jobs for a better commute.

10.  Millennials prioritize the ability to travel as the primary reason for work, while baby boomers state paying for necessities.

When it comes to differences in attitudes between millennials and baby boomers, statistics on job satisfaction in America are very interesting.

For example, older workers state paying for basic necessities (65%) is the main reason why they work, followed by the fact that they enjoy working (56%), to save for retirement (53%), to pay off debt (44%), and lastly, to travel (44%).

The job satisfaction statistics are slightly different on the millennial side of things. Close to 60% of them prioritize the ability to travel, though the majority still state paying for basic necessities (82%) as the main reason.

Saving for retirement (55%) and paying off debt (50%) are of slightly lesser importance.

11. 79% of employees would refuse a higher-paying job from a company that failed to act against sexual harassment.

When researching statistics on finding a job and the satisfaction with the process, it is good to keep in mind a particularly encouraging fact about workplace equality. Around 79% of employees are unlikely to accept a job with a higher salary from an employer that fails to act against sexual harassment.

At the same time, there seems to be greater tolerance for other forms of disagreeable behavior for a pay increase.

Examples include a company paying minority employees less than non-minority employees (71%), using a legal loophole for minimizing tax liability (61%), as well as making political donations to candidates they dislike (46%).

12. 45% of employees believe they have gained weight at their current job.

Statistics on job satisfaction go hand in hand with a Careerbuilder survey according to which nearly half of employees believe they have gained weight at their current job. What’s more, 25% of all US workers say they have gained more than 10 pounds at their current job.

Furthermore, 10% of them say they’ve gained more than 20 pounds. Among the biggest deterrents to a healthy lifestyle are workplace weariness, stress-related eating, and sedentary careers.

Employers need to pay much more attention to employee health as suboptimal health can negatively affect morale, efficiency, and productivity.

13.  More than 80% of HR leaders believe employee recognition is crucial for organizations.

Employee job satisfaction statistics also suggest employee recognition is among the most important factors that directly impact overall levels of productivity and happiness on the job.

According to a study from Workhuman, 80% of HR leaders state their organization currently boasts an employee recognition program.

Many among these leaders believe their respective programs help with organizational values (83%), employee engagement (84%), organizational culture (85%), employee relationships (86%), and overall work satisfaction and experience (89%).

So, it is crucial for HR leaders to treat employee recognition as a real-life management practice that has a quantifiable impact on any business.

14. Workers whose input is encouraged and appreciated are more than four times as likely to be more productive.

While feedback and recognition are certainly important, statistics regarding job satisfaction suggest they are still not enough.

Employees around the world agree that inclusiveness and equality need greater momentum. To this end, it’s absolutely crucial to ensure that you listen to what they have to say.

It is no secret that companies that host greater ethnic and gender diversity consistently outperform the competition because they reach more potential customers thanks to reflecting the diversity of society more accurately.

Simply put, inviting more people to the table and then making sure their voices are heard on a larger scale means communication really is a two-way street (in addition to being an obvious win-win for all parties involved).

15. 96% of employees think showing empathy is an important way to increase employee retention.

Empathy remains one of the crucial parts of emotional intelligence even among the most satisfying careers. It is the ability to become mindful of the emotions of others and identify and manage one’s own emotions. Workers everywhere agree on the importance of empathy.

However, employee retention statistics suggest that close to 92% of employees still feel a lack of empathy. While 92% of CEOs state their organizations are empathetic, only 50% of their employees agree. In any case, empathy in the workplace improves business outcomes.

Job Satisfaction Statistics - office

Key Takeaways


As seen from our list of job satisfaction statistics, happy employees are the driving force behind every successful company in the long haul.

The data clearly shows that engaged and energetic employees are more than ready to face challenges head-on, overcome them and achieve much better results.

To top it all off:

Feeling appreciated at work is something everyone wants irrespective of their place on the company hierarchy.

Whether you’re a small business owner, HR manager, or CEO, the recipe is clear:

Ensure your workers feel appreciated, respected, and engaged. Show them you care, and they’ll show you what they’re really capable of.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are happy with their jobs?


This is by no means a simple question, but the latest career satisfaction statistics from Gallup and Statista suggest that there are close to 45 million full-time workers in the US who are happy with their jobs.

At the same time, the number of full-time workers in the US comes up to 131 million, according to a Statista report published in June 2019.

Similarly, Gallup’s latest annual survey suggests that 34% of employed Americans are engaged at work. As a result, the number of people who are happy with their jobs comes up to around 45 million at the moment.

Are Americans satisfied with their jobs?


According to the aforementioned research, American workers are generally satisfied with their jobs. Even though a significant share of them (30%) see the work that they do as “just a job to get them by” instead of a career, it is important to keep in mind that views about work are very sharply divided along socio-economic lines.

With close to one-half of US workers describing their job as a career, it is safe to say that Americans are generally satisfied with their jobs.

What percentage of Americans are satisfied with their jobs?


According to a study by the Pew Research Center, around half (49%) of employed Americans agree about having the highest job satisfaction. While it is important to keep in mind that job satisfaction does vary by key job characteristics, education, and household income, every three in ten Americans still state they are somewhat satisfied.

Approximately 9% say they are somewhat dissatisfied, while 6% say they are very dissatisfied. Keeping in mind that the way people feel about their job spills over into other aspects of their lives (and their overall sense of happiness), the stats are pretty clear — roughly half of working Americans are satisfied with their jobs.

What are the five major factors involved in job satisfaction?


Job satisfaction can be defined as the level of fulfillment an employee gets from their work environment and job. As seen in the previous stats, there are a number of different factors that can positively affect employees’ feeling of eagerness to perform their duties daily.

A good salary remains a staple of job satisfaction around the world, with fair pay becoming more and more important. Growth opportunities are proving exceedingly important for a number of workers, while some prefer a steady and reliable work-life balance they can count on.

We also mustn’t forget to have a friendly and empathetic boss and colleagues as additional factors that tend to contribute to job satisfaction immensely.

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