Why job satisfaction is more than a question of salary or prestige

The Star

20-05-2025

Several factors influence job satisfaction, but neither the level of remuneration nor the prestige of the position are decisive. — Photo: dragana991/ Getty Images, via ETX Daily Up
Many surveys concur that employees are increasingly disillusioned, reduced to working "just" for their wages.
This gloomy view of the professional world is fortunately tempered by a recent Estonian study. It claims that some jobs really do make people happy. And they're not necessarily the ones you might think.
The study is based on data from the Estonian Biobank, a nationwide project involving thousands of participants. Each participant completed a lengthy questionnaire after a blood donation.
The survey covered their current occupation, salary, psychological profile and level of satisfaction with various aspects of their lives.
By cross-referencing the responses of 59,042 volunteers with the precise characteristics of their jobs, the researchers were able to establish an average satisfaction index for each profession.
Based on this information, they drew up a ranking of 263 professions according to the level of satisfaction they offer.
The top occupations are those in which people find meaning in what they do. From priests to doctors and writers, these occupations share a strong sense of personal commitment and a direct link with others.
On the other hand, professions where working conditions are considered difficult, such as kitchen work, storage, manufacturing or sales, appear to be the least fulfilling.
How work can influence life
The study also took into account life satisfaction as a whole, and not just that linked to professional activity.
As a result, certain professions – such as psychologist, special-needs teacher, sheet-metal worker or ship engineer – stand out as having a higher level of life satisfaction. Conversely, security guards, waiters, mail carriers and carpenters have a lower overall level of satisfaction.
Overall, several factors influence happiness at work, but neither salary level nor job prestige seem to be decisive factors.
"I was expecting the job prestige to be more associated with satisfaction, but there was only a slight correlation," study coauthor, Kätlin Anni, of the University of Tartu, told New Scientist.
"Jobs with a higher sense of achievement are associated with higher satisfaction, and even lower-prestige jobs can be quite fulfilling."
In other words, an undervalued or even overlooked profession can become a source of profound pride if it enables the person doing it to feel useful, recognized and in tune with their values.
Stress also plays a key role. Some positions of responsibility, particularly in large corporations, are subject to excessive pressure and rigidity, which weighs heavily on personal well-being.
On the other hand, self-employed workers, who are freer to manage their own schedules, appear to be more fulfilled overall.
But can these results be applied to other countries? Caution is advised, as professional experiences are shaped by local realities.
Cultural norms, social expectations and economic conditions are just some of the factors that influence perceptions of work.
But this study opens up some interesting perspectives for rethinking the place of work in our quest for well-being. Maybe the ideal job isn't the one we always dreamed of, but the one in which we find the most meaning... — AFP Relaxnews