Clergy, Medics, Writing Among Most Fulfilling Jobs, While Kitchens, Transport,... Rank Lowest: Study
Job satisfaction is mostly subjective; for some, a particular job could be tiresome, while for others the same job would be the easiest and most content one. However, researchers have recently studied both the most and the least satisfying jobs in the world, scientifically analysing around 59,000 employees and 263 occupations.
The study carried out by Kätlin Anni, a faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Psychology at the University of Tartu in Estonia and her colleagues found that the most fulfilling and satisfying jobs include clergy, various medical professions and writing. The study stated that the least satisfying jobs are working in kitchens, transport, storage and manufacturing, and being a survey interviewer or sales worker.
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The study noted that, in terms of overall satisfaction, being a medical professional, psychologist, special-needs teacher, a sheet-metal worker or a ship engineer were among the top occupations, while being a security guard, survey interviewer, waiter, sales worker, mail carrier, carpenter, or chemical engineer ranked low in the satisfaction index.
The researchers claimed that the study could be probably the most comprehensive and rigorous study yet on satisfaction differences between jobs.
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Published in the journal NewScientist, the study claims that researchers asked sample participants donating blood for the biobank project to complete a survey detailing their job, salary, personality, and satisfaction with various aspects of life. The scientists then used these details to identify the jobs that seem to provide the most and the least fulfillment.
According to the study, factors that contribute to job satisfaction are not necessarily higher income or prestige of a job, while work that gives a higher sense of achievement is associated with higher satisfaction.
“I was expecting job prestige to be more associated with satisfaction, but there was only a slight correlation,” said study author Katlin Anni.
Low -satisfaction jobs often had stressful factors, such as a role with a lot of responsibility, like being a manager. The study also noted the importance of being self-employed as the highest rate for job satisfaction as it offers independence to regulate their work days.
However, the researchers suggested that caution should be taken about generalising the findings, acknowledging that cultural norms in different regions also play an important role in determining job satisfaction and how people perceive a particular job.
