Australia’s leading employment marketplace, SEEK, has released its inaugural Workplace Happiness Index, providing a pulse check on Australians’ happiness levels at work, and comprehensive and timely insights into how best to foster and improve workplace happiness.
This survey of over 1,200 workers across a broad range of generations, locations, industries, income levels and seniorities* revealed that only 55% of Australians report that they feel happy at work. This new Index asked workers how happy they currently are with a range of factors, such as work-life balance and their senior management. This data was then analysed to determine how workers rank each factor in contributing to their workplace happiness overall.
Aimee Hutton, Head of Customer Insights and Strategy comments: “While we may not love every job that we are in at every life stage, being happy at work is an important contributor to a person’s overall health and wellbeing. However, it’s not just about the individual benefits of workplace happiness. The research in SEEK’s Workplace Happiness Index shows that those who are unhappy at work are more likely (83%) to think about changing jobs, compared to those who are happy (45%) at work. This is testament to happiness at work being invaluable for Australian businesses and healthy productivity in the labour market.
The aim of this inaugural Workplace Happiness Index is to spotlight the strongest opportunities to improve happiness at work for both employees and employers, and ultimately, drive a happier workforce in Australia.”
What Australian workers are currently happy with (and not) at work
SEEK’s research reveals that it’s the type of work, and who we work with and where, that are the biggest drivers of current happiness at work, with location of work, day-to-day responsibilities and work-life balance taking the lead.
On the other hand, the Index also revealed what Australians are least happy with at work, which includes their salary and career growth. This is possibly reflective of an increasingly competitive labour market where some employees may have less bargaining power over their employment terms. The data also suggests there is an expectation that business leaders need to step up to the plate on their commitment to social and environmental responsibility, with only 35% of Australians happy with this.
| Top 5: Australians are most happy with at work | Bottom 5: Australians are least happy with at work |
| Location of work (65% of Australian workers are happy) Day-to-day responsibilities (61%) Work-life balance (61%) Purpose at work (58%) Team / colleagues (58%) | Company commitment to ESG (35% of Australian workers are happy) Career progression opportunities (37%) Stress levels (41%) Salary (42%) Senior leadership (43%) |
The most important factors to Australian workers’ happiness at work
Interestingly, having purpose at work takes the top spot as the most important contributor to happiness, ahead of work-life balance and salary, which ranked eighth and ninth respectively. Australians also consider individual contribution and social connection to be most significant in their happiness at work, with their manager, day-to-day responsibilities, company culture and stress levels ranked as important after purpose at work.
“What’s quite revealing in this Index is that having a meaningful purpose, followed by a great manager has a bigger impact on workplace happiness than money and job security — which, interestingly, don’t even make it into the top five most important factors contributing to overall workplace happiness.
It’s uncovered a clear opportunity for employees and employers alike to consider ways to drive greater fulfilment and connection at work. We hope that this Index can help fuel meaningful change to improve happiness at work across Australia,” says Hutton.
| Top 5: Factors that rank as most important to Australians’ happiness at work | Bottom 5: Factors that rank as least important to Australians’ happiness at work |
| Purpose at work Their manager Day-to-day responsibilities Company culture Stress levels | The success of your company (e.g. profitability) Company commitment to ESG Career progression opportunities Job security Location of work |
“Many working Australians are struggling with financial uncertainty, and many of us are still grappling with the constantly changing way we work, so it’s unsurprising to see only 55% of people are happy at work,” says Transitioning Well Co-Director and Organisational Psychologist, Justine Alter. “We need to acknowledge this intersection, as it’s just as important to support workers to live well, as much as it is to support them to work well. From an individual point of view, we know that happiness can be a protective mental health factor, and can lead to a longer, healthier life. At an organisational level, there are numerous studies to suggest that happier workers are more productive, highlighting its importance.”
Further insights from SEEK’s Workplace Happiness Index
- Talkin’ about our generations – the youngest generation of workers, Gen Z, is the least happy generation at work, with only half (50%) saying they are happy at work. However, it may not be for the reasons that you think – with Gen Z being least happy with their career progression opportunities and senior leadership, as well as the company’s commitment to ESG. On the flipside, Baby Boomers are the most happy at work (61%).
- State of the states – South Australian workers are the happiest at work (67%), while Western Australian workers are the least happy (46%). The likes of NSW and VIC sit around the halfway mark – with 54% and 57% happy at work, respectively.
- Sector by sector – Government workers (71%) and Retail and Consumer Products (63%) workers are the happiest at work, while those in the engineering (25%) and construction (40%) industries are the least happy.