Latest news with #jobSatisfaction
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Happy on the job? Your age could be why.
There's a vast gap in how happy workers are in their jobs between the oldest and youngest generations. While 57.4% of US workers under 25 report being satisfied with their jobs, that doesn't hold a candle to the 72.4% of those 55 and older who do, according to a report from The Conference Board. While the disparity between older and younger workers is notable, the sheer number of those who say "I love my job" is pretty stunning. Across the board, job satisfaction jumped 5.7 percentage points — the largest single-year gain in the survey's 38-year history. 'I'm surprised by the sharp jump in overall job satisfaction and maybe more surprised that we saw significant increases across the individual elements of job satisfaction,' Allan Schweyer, a principal researcher at The Conference Board, told Yahoo Finance. The survey measures a range of factors, including compensation, retirement and pension plans, sense of belonging, engagement, mental health, performance feedback, workload, hybrid flexibility, quality of leadership, and growth opportunities. The elements that make the most difference when it comes to loving your job are interest in work, followed closely by quality of leadership, organizational culture, workload, and workers' relationships with their supervisors. He said those factors mattered more to people than the value they placed on wages, bonuses, health insurance, and vacation pay. Gains were particularly strong for women workers, increasing by more than 8 percentage points. Women, though, continue to be less satisfied than men with their wages, bonus plans, and pension and retirement plans. Workers who earn six-figure salaries are somewhat more satisfied than those earning less. And workers in hybrid work arrangements are consistently more satisfied and likely to stay. Let's turn back to the older vs. younger disconnect. There are some underlying reasons for the difference in opinion. For starters — although who doesn't value manageable workloads and meaningful work — late-career employees prioritize these elements of a job at higher levels than younger colleagues, according to the researchers. But it goes deeper. 'In general, the older workers we work with are more hopeful, more determined, less frustrated,' Gwenn Rosener, partner and co-founder of FlexProfessionals, a recruiting and staffing firm for the Boston and Washington, D.C., areas, told Yahoo Finance. 'After years of navigating good and bad bosses, jobs, and economies, they are pretty realistic, resilient, and more satisfied,' she said. 'They have more tempered expectations about what a job should provide. They're not chasing the weighty ideal of changing the world like many in the younger generations. They want to contribute, feel valued, and enjoy their work, and, after years in the workforce, they know where they fit.' For the younger set, the fear of the unknown may have them rattled. 'Younger workers have begun to experience a tougher job market over the past year or two,' Schweyer said. 'New college graduates have a very high rate of underemployment. Their ability to improve pay and work experience by switching jobs has eroded as well.' It is also possible that younger workers are missing out on the benefits of working in an office, he added. By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's Terms and Privacy Policy I reached out to a handful of workers 55 and over to hear first-hand how happy they are with their work and why that is. 'What makes work so satisfying for me at this stage of my career is not only that the job itself is interesting to me, but it's a small organization that values my experience,' Tom Pavilon, 63, a strategic account manager for a Boston scouting firm, told Yahoo Finance. But it's the psychological cool that comes with years on the job that is a powerful component. 'At this age, you've seen it all, so things that used to get you worked up don't anymore,' Pavilon said. 'Certain behaviors that still exist in the workplace, you shake your head at. And there are things that younger workers think are blowing up the world that you know aren't. Having that perspective makes the work more fulfilling because you're not letting the noise bother you.'For Paula Harper, 56, who lives in northern Virginia and works part-time as a virtual executive assistant to an association president, her work 'keeps her plugged in, and the stress level is low.' That's in sharp contrast to her two-plus decades working full-time in higher education administration. Harper stepped out of the workforce for six years to be a caregiver for a family member. 'I am just dipping my toe back in this year, and the work now gives me a little bit of something that's my own, but at the same time, I don't have to have the pressure of a full-time, mid- or high-level role. I can stay in the game and make some small contributions. 'The biggest point: I'm doing something,' she added, noting that finding work wasn't easy after her break. One caveat about these happy workers that shouldn't be ignored: Employers and workers are on pins and needles these days. 'Job satisfaction may remain high for now because the economy, wage gains, and employment have stayed robust,' Schweyer said. 'If the uncertainty turns into recession and much higher unemployment, satisfaction is likely to drop significantly." Kerry Hannon is a Senior Columnist at Yahoo Finance. She is a career and retirement strategist and the author of 14 books, including the forthcoming "Retirement Bites: A Gen X Guide to Securing Your Financial Future," "In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in the New World of Work" and "Never Too Old to Get Rich." Follow her on Bluesky. Sign up for the Mind Your Money newsletter Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
UAE Moments
05-07-2025
- Business
- UAE Moments
Your Daily Career Tarot Card Reading for July 6th, 2025
6.7.25 The Empress: When you draw the Empress it can be a sign that money or other material goods are about to enter your life. However, don't make this your deal breaker where your career is concerned. It would be a mistake to apply for a job just for the salary if it brings very little happiness otherwise. Look for job satisfaction along with a great pay deal for the best long-term outcome.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Happy on the job? Your age could be why.
There's a vast gap in how happy workers are in their jobs between the oldest and youngest generations. While 57.4% of US workers under 25 report being satisfied with their jobs, that doesn't hold a candle to the 72.4% of those 55 and older who do, according to a report from The Conference Board. While the disparity between older and younger workers is notable, the sheer number of those who say "I love my job" is pretty stunning. Across the board, job satisfaction jumped 5.7 percentage points — the largest single-year gain in the survey's 38-year history. 'I'm surprised by the sharp jump in overall job satisfaction and maybe more surprised that we saw significant increases across the individual elements of job satisfaction,' Allan Schweyer, a principal researcher at The Conference Board, told Yahoo Finance. The survey measures a range of factors, including compensation, retirement and pension plans, sense of belonging, engagement, mental health, performance feedback, workload, hybrid flexibility, quality of leadership, and growth opportunities. The elements that make the most difference when it comes to loving your job are interest in work, followed closely by quality of leadership, organizational culture, workload, and workers' relationships with their supervisors. He said those factors mattered more to people than the value they placed on wages, bonuses, health insurance, and vacation pay. Gains were particularly strong for women workers, increasing by more than 8 percentage points. Women, though, continue to be less satisfied than men with their wages, bonus plans, and pension and retirement plans. Workers who earn six-figure salaries are somewhat more satisfied than those earning less. And workers in hybrid work arrangements are consistently more satisfied and likely to stay. Let's turn back to the older vs. younger disconnect. There are some underlying reasons for the difference in opinion. For starters — although who doesn't value manageable workloads and meaningful work — late-career employees prioritize these elements of a job at higher levels than younger colleagues, according to the researchers. But it goes deeper. 'In general, the older workers we work with are more hopeful, more determined, less frustrated,' Gwenn Rosener, partner and co-founder of FlexProfessionals, a recruiting and staffing firm for the Boston and Washington, D.C., areas, told Yahoo Finance. 'After years of navigating good and bad bosses, jobs, and economies, they are pretty realistic, resilient, and more satisfied,' she said. 'They have more tempered expectations about what a job should provide. They're not chasing the weighty ideal of changing the world like many in the younger generations. They want to contribute, feel valued, and enjoy their work, and, after years in the workforce, they know where they fit.' For the younger set, the fear of the unknown may have them rattled. 'Younger workers have begun to experience a tougher job market over the past year or two,' Schweyer said. 'New college graduates have a very high rate of underemployment. Their ability to improve pay and work experience by switching jobs has eroded as well.' It is also possible that younger workers are missing out on the benefits of working in an office, he added. By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's Terms and Privacy Policy I reached out to a handful of workers 55 and over to hear first-hand how happy they are with their work and why that is. 'What makes work so satisfying for me at this stage of my career is not only that the job itself is interesting to me, but it's a small organization that values my experience,' Tom Pavilon, 63, a strategic account manager for a Boston scouting firm, told Yahoo Finance. But it's the psychological cool that comes with years on the job that is a powerful component. 'At this age, you've seen it all, so things that used to get you worked up don't anymore,' Pavilon said. 'Certain behaviors that still exist in the workplace, you shake your head at. And there are things that younger workers think are blowing up the world that you know aren't. Having that perspective makes the work more fulfilling because you're not letting the noise bother you.'For Paula Harper, 56, who lives in northern Virginia and works part-time as a virtual executive assistant to an association president, her work 'keeps her plugged in, and the stress level is low.' That's in sharp contrast to her two-plus decades working full-time in higher education administration. Harper stepped out of the workforce for six years to be a caregiver for a family member. 'I am just dipping my toe back in this year, and the work now gives me a little bit of something that's my own, but at the same time, I don't have to have the pressure of a full-time, mid- or high-level role. I can stay in the game and make some small contributions. 'The biggest point: I'm doing something,' she added, noting that finding work wasn't easy after her break. One caveat about these happy workers that shouldn't be ignored: Employers and workers are on pins and needles these days. 'Job satisfaction may remain high for now because the economy, wage gains, and employment have stayed robust,' Schweyer said. 'If the uncertainty turns into recession and much higher unemployment, satisfaction is likely to drop significantly." Kerry Hannon is a Senior Columnist at Yahoo Finance. She is a career and retirement strategist and the author of 14 books, including the forthcoming "Retirement Bites: A Gen X Guide to Securing Your Financial Future," "In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in the New World of Work" and "Never Too Old to Get Rich." Follow her on Bluesky. Sign up for the Mind Your Money newsletter
Forbes
05-07-2025
- General
- Forbes
Why People Feel Depressed At Work And What To Do About It
Why People Feel Depressed At Work And What To Do About It I keep hearing the same thing from people in completely different roles and industries. They say they go to work, answer emails, go to meetings, and do what's expected. But underneath all of that, they feel something is off. They say things like, "I feel like I am existing, but I'm not really living." Or, "I used to care more, but now I just want the day to end." They're not necessarily depressed. But they're not fully engaged either. It's like something vital is missing, and they're too tired to go looking for it. You might think this is about quiet quitting or burnout. For some people, it probably is. But there's something else going on. I hear it from people in situations where you'd expect them to be excited, like when they have a new job or a flexible schedule. There's something deeper, and it feels like it's about how people see their place in the world and at work. Many describe it as feeling depressed at work, even when nothing specific has gone wrong. Why Do I Feel Depressed At Work And Blah Even When I Should Feel Fine? Why Do I Feel Depressed At Work And Blah Even When I Should Feel Fine? There's a heaviness that a lot of people seem to be carrying into their workday. You might not even see it because they still hit deadlines and smile on Zoom. But if you ask them if they feel like they're doing meaningful work, they pause. Or they laugh in that way that people do when they don't know how to answer. I think a lot of people are just tired of pretending that things are fine. They're overwhelmed, overstimulated, and at the same time, incredibly bored. Everything seems urgent, but nothing really feels all that important. That kind of emotional contradiction drains people in ways that are hard to measure. Is This A New Kind Of Burnout, Or Something Else Entirely, Making People Depressed At Work? Is This A New Kind Of Burnout, Or Something Else Entirely, Making People Depressed At Work? Burnout used to be about overwork. Now, it's often about emotional disconnection. You can be working fewer hours and still feel burned out if you've lost your sense of purpose. During the pandemic, a lot of people had time to reflect on what mattered. For some, that created positive change. But for others, it created awareness without a path forward. They saw what was missing but didn't know how to fix it. I've had jobs where everything looked great on paper, with perks, promotions, and travel. But I dreaded Mondays. My skills were not well-aligned to my job responsibilities, and I wasn't challenged in a way that felt meaningful. I didn't feel like I could say that out loud without sounding ungrateful. What's Fueling People Feeling Depressed At Work Beneath The Surface? What's Fueling People Feeling Depressed At Work Beneath The Surface? People tell me several things have caused them to feel depressed at work, including the following. Where Do You Go When You're Depressed At Work And Just Drifting Through Your Days? Where Do You Go When You're Depressed At Work And Just Drifting Through Your Days? Where do you start when you feel like you're drifting? That feeling is a signal that something needs attention. It usually means there's a gap between what matters to you and what you're doing. That doesn't mean you need to make drastic changes overnight. But it might be time to ask questions you haven't asked in a while. When was the last time you felt excited about something at work? What small thing could you change this week that would make you feel more alive? It always comes back to curiosity. When people lose it, they start going through the motions. When they find it again, they start asking better questions, having better conversations, and noticing opportunities they didn't see before. Then their energy starts to come back. Technology can be part of the solution. Try asking ChatGPT or another tool to give you new ideas. Ask for projects, hobbies, or fun things to explore. You might be surprised at what you find. How Can Leaders Help People Who Feel Depressed At Work Without Making It Worse? How Can Leaders Help People Who Feel Depressed At Work Without Making It Worse? At work, leaders can start by listening to people, not with a survey, but with real conversations. Don't ask employees how satisfied they are. Ask what they wish they could spend more time doing. Ask what would make them feel like their work matters again. And then listen without interrupting or trying to fix it right away. The best leaders I've interviewed all had one thing in common. They didn't rush to solve everything. They made space for exploration. They knew that when people feel safe to be honest, they become more invested, more creative, and more motivated. If someone on your team is just getting by, don't assume they're disengaged. Ask what they're missing. Ask what they're curious about. That shift in how you lead could change everything. What Does It Take To Get Over Feeling Depressed At Work? What Does It Take To Get Over Feeling Depressed At Work? People want something real, something that connects to their values and gives their work meaning. You don't have to overhaul your entire life to find that again. But you do have to pay attention to what you've been ignoring. If something feels off, it probably is. That awareness might be the very thing that brings you back to life. If you've been feeling depressed at work, you're not alone. You're also not stuck.
Forbes
30-06-2025
- Forbes
Employees: AI Is Giving Us Hours Back Every Week
Getting an AI boost There is no shortage of debate about the implications of artificial intelligence on productivity, with many suggestions that it is still elusive. Plus, there is the constant underlying dread reported among workers that AI is conducting a hostile takeover of their jobs. However, in study after study, when when asking affected workers themselves, a different picture emerges. They seem to like AI. Ethan Mollick, associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, drives this point home in a recent LinkedIn post: 'The repeated argument that I see online that AI is not actually useful to real people needs to be retired, based on the representative national surveys we now have on real AI users. The idea that most people are not seeing gains from AI is just not matching what they are reporting in surveys – or what we find in experiments." Two recent studies cited by Mollick point to productivity gains, higher quality work, and yes, greater job satisfaction with the use of AI. For starters, teachers have something to teach us about AI and productivity. Those using AI report a time savings of at least six hours a week. The survey of 2,000 teachers in grades K through 12, conducted by Gallup and underwritten by the Walton Family Foundation, shows six in 10 have used an AI tool for their work this school year, with heavier use among high school (66%) and early-career teachers (69%). Teachers who use AI weekly save 5.9 hours per week, the study shows. That's the equivalent of six weeks per school year. Currently, about three in 10 teachers are using AI at least weekly, with more frequent users experiencing greater time savings A separate survey of 4,278 U.S. workers, conducted by researchers from Stanford, George Mason, and Clemson Universities, finds workers using AI report a three-fold productivity gains on many tasks. LLM adoption among employees has increased rapidly, the researchers found – from 30.1% as of December 2024, to 43.2% as of March and April 2025. The research team cites the use of ChatGPT and Generative AI behind the rapid increase. Among those who use genAI, about one third say they use it daily. On average, workers spend about 30 minutes working with a genAI tool per task. They estimate it takes about 90 minutes to manually complete such tasks – meaning they save at least one hour of time per task. This would be a tripling of the productivity of the workers if all tasks can be completed with the use of genAI, the researcher estimate. AI has a positive impact on the quality of work as well, the Gallup teachers' study shows. Most teachers, 64%, report higher quality in the modifications they make to student materials. Another 61% say they generate higher-quality insights about student learning or achievement data. A majority, 57%, say AI improves the quality of their grading and student feedback. 'Teachers who use AI are more likely to be optimistic about the impacts of AI on student outcomes,' the report states. Close to half, 48%, think AI will increase student engagement, compared with 25% of non-users.
