Job satisfaction across U.S. workplaces has soared to its highest level since tracking began in 1987, according to a June 11 report from The Conference Board. Based on a survey of 1,700 workers, the data revealed the sharpest annual jump in satisfaction—up by 5.7 percentage points—with 26 out of 27 workplace aspects showing improvement.

However, this milestone wasn’t shared by all. Workers under the age of 25 were the only group to report a decline in job satisfaction, with just 57.4% expressing contentment, compared to 72.4% of workers aged 55 and older. This 15-point generational gap highlights a growing divide in workplace fulfillment.

“This year’s results reveal a widening generational divide in how happy workers are in their jobs,” said Allan Schweyer, principal researcher of human capital at The Conference Board. He noted that older employees benefit from stronger leadership, manageable workloads, and meaningful roles—while younger workers continue to search for workplace cultures that resonate with their values. Schweyer emphasized the need for more tailored engagement strategies to better support early-career talent.

Among the most improved areas of worker sentiment were intent to stay, effort levels, sense of belonging, engagement, and mental health. The report attributed the overall rise in morale to low unemployment, steady wage growth, hybrid work flexibility, and increased transparency in performance feedback and career progression.

Women, for the first time in seven years, reported higher overall job satisfaction than men. However, they continued to score lower in 21 out of 27 metrics—particularly in compensation-related areas like pay, bonuses, and retirement benefits.

Top satisfaction drivers were largely intrinsic and culture-related, including interest in daily work, leadership quality, workplace culture, workload balance, and supervisor relationships. Compensation factors, while still relevant, played a secondary role in driving overall happiness at work.

Interestingly, those who switched jobs in 2024 reported slightly higher satisfaction levels than those who remained in their current roles. Career development and company culture—not compensation—were cited as key motivators behind these moves.

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Source: Hrdive.com