Job Satisfaction in the United States

Abstract

APRIL 17, 2007, 12:01 A.M.Most American adults are employed and their job is not only their main source of income, but also an important life domain in other ways. Work occupies a large part of each worker’s day, is one’s main source of social standing, helps to define who a person is, and affects one’s health both physically and mentally. Because of work’s central role in many people’s lives, satisfaction with one’s job is an important component in overall well-being. For example, job satisfaction and general happiness are positively related (Pearson’s r=.286, prob.=.000) with those saying they are very happy in general rising from 15.7 % for those very dissatisfied with their job to 45.3 % very happy among those very satisfied with their job. Job satisfaction is not evenly distributed across occupations or workers. In general, job satisfaction increases with the prestige or social standing of occupations. 1 As Table 1 shows, for all workers 47.0 % are very satisfied with their jobs and that increases from 33.6 % very satisfied among the unskilled and entry-level occupations lowest in prestige to 55.8 % very satisfied among professionals and others in jobs with the highest occupational prestige. Similarly, general happiness among the employed averages 33.3%

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