Indeed Job Happiness Index 2016: A Summary of Its Findings
In its Job Happiness Index 2016 report, Indeed analyzed over 10 million employer reviews and assigned rankings for workplace happiness among 35 countries. Indeed based its rankings on five distinct measures: management, job security and advancement, culture, work-life balance, and compensation and benefits — deemed the “Indeed Happiness Index.”
Overall job satisfaction took into account all five measures, and the top-five list for highest job satisfaction came out to: Colombia (number one), Mexico, Russia, Ireland and Brazil (number five). The United States ranked only 23 out of 35, and the UK was just ahead at 22nd on the list. Indeed points out that national wealth doesn’t always guarantee job happiness, according to its data. Colombia ranked number one for job satisfaction while only ranking 37th for GDP according to the World Bank, while the U.S. is first for GDP but ranks only 23rd on Indeed’s job satisfaction ranking.
Of Indeed’s five workplace happiness measures, work-life balance was found to be the most important factor for employees overall across the 35 countries — although different countries rank the measures with varying priority. The U.S., for example, ranked quality of management to be the most important individual factor for workplace happiness.
At the very bottom of the list for job satisfaction was Japan, possibly because of its overworked workforce which lacks a healthy work-life balance, Indeed hypothesizes. In Japan, 9 days’ paid leave per year is normal, and almost one-quarter of the population works over 49 hours a week.
As for cities within the U.S., Los Angeles ranked number one for overall job satisfaction, with personal assistant being ranked the top of the list for job titles, and creative director, production assistant and teaching assistant not far behind for happiness.
In the rest of the country’s top 10 cities for job satisfaction, the following job titles topped the list: teaching assistant, substitute teacher and childcare provider. As for the unhappiest jobs in the country, admission counselor, truck driver and security officer topped the list.
Indeed gives us several takeaways to consider from its findings, such as the fact that compensation consistently ranked lowest as a factor for workplace happiness. And while work-life balance overall ranked as the most important factor, different cultures and different countries might not all agree on that ranking. Indeed stresses that employers also shouldn’t lose sight of the importance of providing a sense of meaning in one’s work and opportunity for growth — sound familiar?
The entire Indeed report is worth a read to see the full rankings fleshed out. Check it out here.