Fewer Americans happy with their jobs

Are you satisfied with your job?

If you answered yes, you are part of a decreasing number of Americans who are happy in their current position. According to a new study by The Conference Board by TNS, job satisfaction continues to decline in America, with less than half of all people satisfied with their jobs today.

The younger you are, the more likely you are to be dissatisfied with your job. The majority of Americans younger than 25 are unhappy with their current jobs. Fortunately, job satisfaction appears to increase as you advance in your career, as nearly half of all workers age 55 and older are happy with their job.

Money also plays a significant role in job satisfaction. As expected, workers earning less than $15,000 a year report the highest levels of job dissatisfaction. As incomes rise, so does job satisfaction. Workers earning more than $50,000 a year are most satisfied with their jobs.

Your location also contributes to your job satisfaction. Workers in the Middle Atlantic States (New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania) report the lowest levels of job satisfaction, while the most content workers reside in the Mountain States.

Beyond these general trends, your individual job dictates your level of satisfaction. Unhappiness with benefits and incentive plans tends to increase levels of dissatisfaction. Only about 23 percent of employees are satisfied with their company’s bonus plans and promotion policies, and only one-third of workers are content with their workload and balance between their work and personal life.

So, if you are unhappy with your current job, you aren’t alone. Rather than accepting this unhappiness, consider talking with your manager about the areas of your job that you don’t like.

If an open discussion doesn’t improve your outlook, it might be time to enter the job market and see if another position can improve your happiness and well-being.