Worker satisfaction declines as employees seek better pay and flexibility: Pew Research

WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES — A new report from Pew Research Center reveals a growing dissatisfaction among U.S. workers, with 76% saying they exceed job expectations but remain unhappy with their pay and a lack of remote work flexibility. 

The survey, conducted from October 7-13 among 5,273 employed U.S. adults finds that while half of employed adults report being extremely or very satisfied with their jobs, overall satisfaction has dropped since 2023.

Satisfaction levels show age divide

Workers aged 50 and above, along with those in middle to upper-income brackets and self-employed individuals, demonstrate higher job satisfaction levels than their counterparts. 

Workers express the greatest satisfaction with their relationships with colleagues (64%) and managers (59%), as well as their commutes (58%). Just 12% of workers say they are not satisfied with their jobs. 

Remote work and pay emerge as major pain points

Forty percent of employees express dissatisfaction with remote work flexibility, as major corporations like Amazon, Citigroup, and Walmart implement stricter return-to-office policies. 

Salary dissatisfaction also looms large. Workers say their pay hasn’t kept pace with the cost of living (80%) and doesn’t reflect the quality (71%) or quantity (70%) of their work. Over half (54%) report struggling to cover bills, and 28% say they are paid less than colleagues performing similar tasks.

Promotion opportunities rank as another major grievance, with 38% of employees feeling dissatisfied. 

Declining satisfaction trends

Employee satisfaction has notably decreased compared to 2023 across seven out of nine surveyed categories. Training and development satisfaction dropped from 44% to 37% between February 2023 and October 2024. 

The generational divide is particularly evident among younger workers aged 18-29, who are more likely to stick to defined job expectations, reflecting Gen Z‘s growing influence in establishing clearer work-life boundaries. 

Looking forward, 25% of employees anticipate seeking new employment within six months, though 52% believe job hunting will be more challenging than in 2022.