The UK workforce seem to be fed up with low job satisfaction and feelings of being unfairly paid.
A new job satisfaction index from custom workwear specialists, Essential Workwear reveals that millions of Brits are unhappy at work, despite many earning high salaries.
The nationwide study estimates that around 6 million UK workers are dissatisfied with their current job.
The study surveyed over 2,000 UK respondents to determine overall job satisfaction for each industry, asking how much they are paid, if they are satisfied with their current job and if they feel they are paid fairly for their hard work.
The findings suggest that pay satisfaction and job enjoyment often go hand in hand, but perceptions of fairness may play an even bigger role in workplace happiness.
While nearly three quarters of respondents say they are happy in their roles, over 30% believe they are paid unfairly. Around 17% earn less than £23K a year, which is below the national living wage for a 39-hour week. But, over 20% of those surveyed earn more than £55K annually, showing a striking divide between low and highly paid workers.
Lucrative Industries That Actually Make You Happy?
But which industries have the most lucrative prospects? And does a handsome salary affect your job satisfaction?
The study found that the highest paid industry is IT with over half (53%) of workers revealing a hefty salary of over £55K. This is followed by Accountancy, Banking and Finance (35%) and Business, Consulting and Management (31%).
Almost unsurprisingly, those working in the IT industry had the highest job satisfaction rating compared to any other industry in the study with 45% agreeing that they were ‘extremely satisfied’ with their current job role.
If you are looking for a role that you can truly enjoy and feel satisfied with your output at the end of the day, the survey found that those in Recruitment and HR (38%) and Property and Construction (36%) also reported high levels of job satisfaction.
Overall, the lowest paying industries in the study were Hospitality and Events Management (39%), followed by Media and Internet (33%) and Leisure, Sports and Tourism (32%). This is based on respondents reporting they earned less than £23K per year. If this was the salary for a full time, 39 hour week, you would be earning less than the National Living Wage.
Of those being paid the least, the Media and Internet industry found they were among those who were the most dissatisfied with their jobs (17%), however, they believed they were being paid fairly. Interestingly, the industry actually topped the list for this category with a whopping 78% agreeing.
In the trades, Engineering and Manufacturing leads in pay, with nearly a quarter earning over £55K, while Property and Construction, despite lower pay (16% under £23K), shows high satisfaction (36%).
Gender comparisons
The study also looked into gender comparisons in pay and job satisfaction. The survey revealed that nearly double the amount of women (23%) than men (12%) were paid under 23K per year. Shockingly, a similar narrative is clear with those earning over £55K a year. Nearly a third (27%) of men take home over £55K salary. This is compared to just 16% of women. The study found that nearly a sixth of men feel they are paid fairly compared to 32% of women who feel the complete opposite.
Pay and satisfaction also varies widely across the UK:
- Lowest-paid regions: Central England and South West (22% earning under £23K).
- Highest-paid regions: South East (30% earning over £55K) and Scotland (22%).
- Job satisfaction: South East leads (30% extremely satisfied, 45% somewhat satisfied), while South West reports the highest dissatisfaction (17%).
- Perceived unfair pay: Wales tops the list, with 37% of workers feeling underpaid.
Speaking on the results of the survey Louis Georgiou, Operations Director at Essential Workwear has said, “Our job satisfaction index shows just how divided the UK workforce is today. Millions of Brits feel undervalued, and our research highlights that fair pay, recognition, and a positive work environment are just as important as salary in determining job satisfaction,”
“Workers can boost their own job satisfaction by seeking roles that match their skills and values, speaking openly with managers about career development, and prioritising industries or roles where employees report high engagement. Small steps, like improving daily routines or finding opportunities for upskilling, can also make a big difference in how people feel about their work.”
