Survey says U.S. job satisfaction on wane
By Robert O'Neill
Associated Press
BOSTON — Workers are growing more unhappy with their jobs in many areas of the country — including the region of which Hawai'i is a part.
The 2002 survey of 5,000 people nationwide found that while most Americans continue to find their jobs interesting and are even satisfied with their commutes, a bare majority like their jobs.
Only 51 percent were satisfied with their jobs, compared with 59 percent in 1995, the survey revealed.
In the Pacific — which includes Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska and Hawai'i — 56 percent of those surveyed said they liked their jobs, down from 59 percent when the survey was last done in 1995.
The mail survey was conducted in March by New York-based Conference Board, which did not provide a margin of error.
Overall, only about one worker in five was satisfied with their companies' promotion policy and bonus plans, while nearly two in five were content with their wages.
Job satisfaction was lowest in New England at 44 percent, compared to 56 percent in 2000 and 65 percent in 1995.
The northern Midwest, Prairie and south central states — Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi — also dropped to below 50 percent compared to the 1995 survey.
Workers in the Rocky Mountain states were the most satisfied, although they dropped from 63 percent to 57 percent in the past seven years.
People also were generally positive about their work commutes, with the percentage satisfied dropping 3 percent, to 59 percent, from seven years ago.
Job satisfaction increased with income levels, but even among the higher-earning households, it had dropped from 67 percent in 1995 to 55 percent in 2002, holding steady since 2000.
Less than 48 percent of people ages 35 to 44 were satisfied with their jobs, compared with nearly 61 percent in 1995. The most satisfied age groups were those under 25 and over 65.
