Behavior/Humans

Which Are the Most Satisfactory Jobs?

What about the least?

By Stefan Anitei, Science Editor

18th of April 2007, 08:45 GMT

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Are you going to work as if you were going to a concentration camp?

Or are you indulging with another shiny happy day?

That depends a lot on your job...

A 2006 national survey made in the US revealed that firefighters, the clergy and others that practice jobs that involve helping or serving people are more satisfied with their jobs and display higher overall happiness than those involved in other jobs. "The most satisfying jobs are mostly professions, especially those involving caring for, teaching and protecting others and creative pursuits," said Tom Smith, director of the General Social Survey (GSS) at the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.

The

research was made on more than 27,000 subjects. "Individuals' level of contentment affects their overall sense of happiness. Work occupies a large part of each worker's day, is one's main source of social standing, helps to define who a person is and affects one's health both physically and mentally. Because of work's central role in many people's lives, satisfaction with one's job is an important component in overall well-being", Smith said.

Overall, 47 % of the subjects were satisfied with their jobs and 33 % reported being very happy.

Here are 10 of the most gratifying jobs and how many of their practitioners find them satisfactory:

Clergy-87 %
Firefighters-80 %
Physical therapists-78 %
Authors-74 %
Special education teachers-70 %
Teachers-69 %
Education administrators-68 %
Painters and sculptors-67 %
Psychologists-67 %
Security and financial services salespersons-65 %
Operating engineers-64 %
Office supervisors-61 %

About 50 % of those practicing them were satisfied with these jobs: police and detectives, registered nurses, accountants, editors and reporters.

Some prestige jobs proved not so satisfactory, including doctors and lawyers and the authors put this on the high level of responsibility and stress linked to them. "The least satisfying dozen jobs are mostly low-skill, manual and service occupations, especially involving customer service and food/beverage preparation and serving," Smith explained.

Here are the 10 of the least gratifying jobs:

Laborers, except construction-21 %
Apparel clothing salespersons-24 %
Handpackers and packagers-24 %
Food preparers-24 %
Roofers-25 %
Cashiers-25 %
Furniture and home-furnishing salespersons-25 %
Bartenders-26 %
Freight, stock and material handlers-26 %
Waiters and servers-27 %

"The results could be useful for job-seekers as "psychological reward" is another factor, in addition to salary and employment security, that can be considered when choosing a profession," Smith added.

TAGS:

job | happy | satisfaction

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