Job satisfaction has sunk to a historic low among U.S. workers. According to a survey conducted by CivicScience, only 68% of U.S. adults are happy in their current jobs, a 16 percentage-point decrease from this time last year. A combination of factors, including personal financial growth and a desire for higher paying and more flexible jobs, are at play.
Despite the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic, a quarter (25%) of respondents said they are in a better financial position than before the pandemic. Financial savings, including stimulus money as well as saving on commuting costs, could be contributing factors in workers quitting their jobs. Interestingly, 39% of those who quit their jobs in 2021 said they are in a better overall financial position than before the pandemic.
Job searching is highest among those 18-24 years old, as over half (53%) reported they are looking for a new job right now. Job searching among other age groups is as follows:
- 25 – 34 year-olds (31%)
- 35 – 54 year-olds (19%)
- 55+ year-olds (9%)
Just over a quarter (26%) of respondents said they have considered a career change in the last six months, a number that has stayed somewhat consistent since 2020. That being said, workers in the healthcare field (39%) and service industry (37%) are most likely to consider a career change.
Of those looking for a new position, Indeed (25%) and LinkedIn (16%) are the preferred online job search sites, distantly followed by Other (9%), Monster (7%), Glassdoor (6%), Career Builder (6%), Google for Jobs (6%), Job on Facebook (4%), and Simply Hired (2%).
