Estate agents are the UK’s most miserable workers – while teachers are happiest because they have ‘purpose’

ESTATE agents are among the country’s unhappiest employees, a new survey has revealed – while a whopping 36 per cent of Brits are miserable with their jobs.

Those in management, consulting roles and automotive work are the gloomiest about their careers.

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On the other end of the scale, people in education are happiest – because they have a clear sense of purpose.

Those in aerospace and defence also scored highly when it comes to work contentment.

More than 1,800 organisations across 25 different sectors were polled as part of Indeed’s Work Happiness Score.

The quiz allows current and former employees to rate businesses on a scale of one to five based on the statement ‘I feel happy at work most of the time’.

Respondents were also asked about belonging, how appreciated their are, company inclusion, the support they receive and the purpose they feel.

The test developed with guidance from Dr Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, professor of economics at Saïd Business School and director of the wellbeing research centre at Oxford University, and Dr Sonja Lyubomirsky, professor of psychology at University of California.

HOUSE ABOUT A SMILE

And today, 100 workers will demonstrate in London’s Trafalgar Square to mark the report’s release.

Dr De Neve said: “Happiness at work is critical to people’s wellbeing for obvious reasons but it is also a driver of their productivity and success.

“So, employers are well advised to get the emotional pulse of their organisation and have a frequent measure of workplace happiness.

“That’s why I’m thrilled to have been involved in developing Indeed’s Work Happiness Score to offer employers and employees robust measures of work happiness, and its drivers, that can be readily compared across thousands of organisations.

“This is only the beginning and I’m so excited to witness the positive impact this score has on fostering happy and thriving workforces across the UK and globally.”

Supporting research of 2,000 employees, conducted via OnePoll, found the average worker spends a fifth of every year feeling unhappy in their role.

Happiness is critical to people’s wellbeing – but it’s also a driver of their productivity and success

Worryingly, one in 10 (11 per cent) even start feeling unhappy less than six months into a new job.

But it seems unhappiness in the workplace isn’t restricted to the working day – it has a knock-on effect on personal lives too.

More than a quarter (28 per cent) admit they struggle to find enjoyment in other aspects of their lives due to feeling unhappy at work, while 22 per cent have taken work frustrations out on their partners.

Almost three-quarters (72 per cent) feel their workplace unhappiness has negatively impacted their physical and/or mental wellbeing, with 44 per cent losing sleep and 43 per cent lacking energy.

A third (33 per cent) of unhappy workers have consequently experienced physical symptoms, with headaches and migraines (55 per cent) the most common.

LaFawn Davis, Senior Vice President, Environmental, Social and Governance at Indeed said: “Happiness should not be a privilege but when it comes to work, it’s a fundamental right.

“Job postings in the UK have soared above their pre-pandemic level. As the labour market shakes off the ill-effects of the pandemic, the adjustments caused by Covid-19 have tipped the balance of power in favour of jobseekers.

“For employers, this means taking a holistic approach to employee wellbeing, and our Work Happiness Score will make it easier for them to measure drivers of happiness to see where improvements can be made.

“While many UK workers are unhappy, there are reasons for optimism. An overwhelming majority of people believe happiness at work is possible and while some sectors are more satisfied than others, we know happiness is possible in all workplaces.”