Career Happiness Index 2012

City& Guilds Believe you can THE KEY TO HAPPINESS AT WORK We spend most of our time at work. When we're not there, we're probably thinking about it-getting on, moving up, improving our lot. But what makes us happy there? And which workers are the most content? City & Guilds' Career Happiness Index 2012 has the answers. THOSE IN SKILLS-BASED ROLES ARE MORE CONTENT ARE FAR HAPPIER MOST OF US ARE SELF-EMPLOYED WORKERS ENJOYING OUR JOBS Happy at work 61% Self-employed 85% Skills-based 65% AUnhappy at work 14% Professional 58% Full-time employed 58% WORKERS AGED OVER 56 ARE HAPPIEST OF ALL THE UK'S HAPPIEST WORKERS AGE НАРPY UNHAPPY 56+ 65% 10% 46-55 59% 16% 61% 35-45 60% 13% 56% 18-34 62% 15% 64% 60% AND THE HAPPIEST CAREER IS... 61% 60% 65% Floristry and gardening, with 87% saying everything at work is rösy. Florists and gardeners like their work most. Most career groups say getting on well with colleagues is the most important ingredient for a happy work life. 599 58%U 59% environment the 68% % AGREEING THEY ARE HAPPY ATTRIBUTE THAT RESPONDENTS MOST ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR JOB 87% laminaworking environment that I like andi O00000000 do something worthwhile anduseful (89) Florists & gardeners Hairdressers & beauticians 79% Ihave control of duties, manage my own workload and have stimulating work (71) 00000000 Plumbers & water 76% Iget on well with colleagues (78) workers 0000000O 75% Iget on well with colleagues andlamina working environment that I like (75) Marketers & PR 00000000 69% Iget on well with colleagues (90) Scientists & researchers 0000000 Leisure & tourism workers 67% Iget on well with colleagues (87) 0000000 Construction workers 66% Iget on well with colleagues (81) 0000000 Doctors & dentists 65% Iget on wellwith colleagues (SS) 0000000 Lawyers 64% Iget on well with colleagues (S6) 000000 Nurses 62% I feel that lam doing something worthwhile and useful (87) 000000 Architects 62% Iget on well with colleagues (81) 000000 Childcare & A youth workers 60% Ifeel that lam doing something worthwhile 000000 and useful (82) Teachers 59% Iget on well with colleagues (86%) 000000 Accountants 58% Iget on well with colleagues (79) 000000 Car workers 57% Iget on well with colleagues (86) & &mechanics 000000 Electricians 55% Ihave control of duties, and manage my own workload (78) Caterers 55% Iget on well with colleagues (85) 000000 HR& personnel 54% Ihave control of duties, and manage my own AA staff 00000 workload (79) IT & telecoms workers 48% Iget on well with colleagues (83) £O Bankers 44% Iget on well with colleagues (76) HAPPIEST CAREERS: REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL % agreeing to this FLORISTS & GARDENERS HAIRDRESSERS & BEAUTICIANS 80% feel recognised O and appreciated 59%! 61% 48% feel recognised and appreciated 89% feel their work is feel their work is worthwhile and useful worthwhile and useful 64% set training support and development get training support and development get to use their 82% skills everyday 63% skils everyday get to use thein Of those surveyed, are most likely to be self-employed (35%) Least likely of all careers surveyed to be unháppy in their jobs (7%) PLUMBERS & WATER WORKERS MARKETERS & PR 67% feel recognised and appreciated 73% 71% 60% feel recognised and appreciated 74% feel their work is worthwhile and useful feel their work is worthwhile and useful get training support 59% and development get training support and development 67% set to use their skills everyday 67% set to use their skills everyday 78% believe it's important that they have scope for career progression Achieving that perfect work life balance is importănt to this group (85%) WHAT MAKES US HAPPY AT WORK? The most important aspect of a job is feeling our work is recognised and appreciated: 62% of all workers say it's very important to them. Florists are most likely to feel their work is recognised and appreciated (80% of them agree), while bankers are least likely to agree. %AGREEING WITH THEG TO AGREE STATEMENTS MOST LIKELY MOST LIKELY TO DISAGREE Scientists & researchers (90%) Iget on well with my colleagues 82% Hairdressers & AN beauticians (14%) I feel that lam doing something worthwhile and useful 73% Florists & 20 Bankers (35%) * gardeners (89%) 80, Nurses, leisure & Ihave control of my duties, and manage my own workload Scientists & S researchers (82%) tourism workers (22%) 69% lamdoing something challenging and stimulating Florists & * gardeners (87%) 68% 20 Bankers (35%) Florists & gardeners (82%) Bankers 35%) lamable to use my skills every day 68% laminaworking environment that I like 67% 20 Bankers (24%) Florists & * gardeners (89%) Ihave a good worklife balance Os Florists & gardeners (73) 64% 20 Bankers (33% I feel my work is recognised and appreciated Florists & gardeners (80% , Leisure & tourism - workers (37% 58% Iget support in training and development 53% 8 Nurses, florists & gardeners (64%) EIT& telecoms workers, bankers 34%) lamadequately financially rewarded 44% Scientists & Lawyers (50%) 9 researchers (63%) Ihave scope for career progression Scientists & researchers (65%) 41% Car workers & mechanics (55%) Ihave flexible working conditions, such as home working Florists & gardeners (69%) Car workers & mechanics (65%) 40% MONEY DOESN'T GUARANTEE HAPPINESS While 61% of those surveyed say being adequately financially rewarded is very important, having money isn't necessarily the key to contentment. Londoners are most likely to feel they are adequately financially rewarded but are the second least likely to be happy of all the regions surveyed. Of those surveyed, the self-employed earn less than those in full time employment but are by far the happiest, with 25% saying they are very happy and 41% agreeing they are very proud of their job - more than twice the average of all those surveyed. SOMEONE WHO INSPIRES AND INFLUENCES MOST (55%) OF US CLAIM NOT TO HAVE A ROLE MODEL, BUT OF THOSE WHO DO A FAMILY MEMBER IS MOST POPULAR, ESPECIALLY AMONG THOSE AGED 18-34: ALL WORKERS AGREEING % 18-34 AGREEING % Family member 17% 26% Colleague 13% 14% Friend outside work 13% 18% Direct line manager 8% 10% Managing director 4% THE MAIN REASON GIVEN FOR THE ROLE MODEL'S ABILITY TO INSPIRE IS THEIR HARD WORK. WE ALSO RESPECT THOSE WHO GET RESULTS IN A PLEASANT WAY. They have worked really hard to get to where they are now 50% They are able to get results in a pleasant/positive way 43% They are able to pass on their skills /knowledge effectively 41% They are committed to their personal development and continue to leam new skills 32% They have been able to achieve a good worklife balance 30% As the UK's leading vocational education ganisation, City & Guilds is committed to enabling City& Guilds organisations to unlock their potential and develop their skills for personal and economic growth. Find out more at www.cityandguilds.com Beleveyou can Al datas from on October 2012 online survey conducted City & Guilds' Career Happiness Index has been launched in celebration of The Skills Show 2012