JobsCentral Singapore - Work Happiness Indicator

Singaporean workers still feel miserable at work this year even though their companies are responding well in the economic recovery. According to the Work Happiness Indicator survey conducted by recruitment portal JobsCentral, overall average score for 3,402 employees this year is 55.5 out of 100. The score last year was 56.4. The index which measures how happy working adults are with their job said a score of 50 indicates that an employee feels neutral while a full 100 points mean he is very happy. Six in 10 respondents belong to the Generation Y category - age group of 21 - 30. Men are also marginally happier than women.

Comments from Lim Der Shing, CEO of JobsCentral

Lim Der Shing, CEO of JobsCentral, said employees are not happier this year compared to last year because they have not seen their bonuses or wages increase by much. “We believe this is because many employers are still cautious about strong hiring and wage increase. They are waiting to see if the growth is sustainable.”

But Lim predicts that the situation could change year end and in the first half of 2011 as low unemployment rate, inflation and higher profits will lead to “strong wage pressure”.

However, most respondents ranked “advancement opportunities” top on their list of important work attributes, followed by “acceptable work demands” and “salary”. The least important work factor was “positive impact to society”. Most polled are not concerned whether their jobs allow them to be socially responsible. As respondents go up the pay scale and education level, those who earn more and are better educated deem contributing back to society of even less importance.

Lim said this would only be worrying if the higher educated ones are “more materialistic and self-centred compared to the general workforce”.

Yet taking home a higher pay cheque does not lead to more work happiness with those earning $10,000 and above recording 56.4 on the index. Employees earning $7,000 - $7,999 are the happiest with a score of 59.2, followed by those earning $8,000 - $8,999 at 58.0.

Interns and professionals in legal, education, research, social & design fields, are the happiest at work

Legal professionals (58.8) are the happiest with what they do for a living, followed by employees in the education field and researchers. Those in public relations were the least happy with a score of 50.4.

Industries with the happiest employees overall are in the services line such as community, social and personal services (59.8) and arts, entertainment, recreation (59.8).

But none can be compared to the interns. They are the happiest group of employees with a high score of 63.5. Contract staff employees are the least happy at 54.3, while part-timers scored 59.8.

Sources and references: HRO, JobsCentral