A third of UK workers don’t think their job is interesting

Job satisfaction among UK workers has fallen to a record low with less Britons willing to work harder to help their employer succeed and more worried about the impact of AI, a survey has revealed.

Since 2015, job satisfaction has fallen from 81 per cent to 74 per cent last year — the lowest figure recorded in any annual edition of the British Social Attitudes survey, which began in 1983.

Employees were found to be less willing to work harder than required to help their employer succeed, with the proportion of those working happy to work harder falling from 69 per cent to 55 per cent.

The Resolution Foundation, which analysed the survey, found a sharp decline in the proportion of working age adults who wish to work full-time dropping from 57 per in 2015 to 47 per cent last year.

Setting their own working hours and money have instead become more important to workers.

Those saying a high income is important to them personally in a job has risen from 67 per cent to 78 per cent. But only 23 per cent feel their job provides a high income, a gap of 55 points.

The survey also found 61 per cent of workers say it is important to them that someone can decide their own working hours in a job, up from 46 per cent. But just 31 per cent say they can do that in their current job.

Hannah Slaughter, principal economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: “Britain's labour market has changed significantly over the past decade, and so too have people's expectations of work. Our analysis suggests that workers increasingly want jobs that provide flexibility, independence and financial security. But many feel those expectations are not being met.

“The result is rising frustration among workers, who report lower job satisfaction, declining willingness to go above and beyond, and a reduced appetite for full-time work. This ‘dissatisfaction drain’ is self-evidently bad for workers, but it also doesn’t bode well for productivity and labour supply, both of which are vital for lifting living standards in the years ahead.”

About two thirds of workers (63 per cent) also say they have an interesting job down from 74 per cent 10 years ago. Just over a quarter (26 per cent) said there are opportunities for advancement, down from 35 per cent.

The report also finds widespread concern about the impact of digital technology, including AI, will have on jobs. But while 60 per cent of working-age adults are worried that digital technologies will take over many jobs currently done by humans, only 22 per cent of workers are concerned that their own job is at risk.

Sir John Curtice, co-editor of the British Social Attitudes report, said: “This invaluable analysis suggests that, for the most part, the current difficulties in Britain’s labour market cannot simply be accounted for workers’ attitudes. Young people have not become more ‘work-shy’, nor have workers in general become more reluctant to change jobs.

“But if workers are to be fully engaged in their work, it has seemingly become more important for employers to provide jobs that are both financially rewarding and have flexible work hours.”