From Forbes: Do you happen to work in retail or food services and think your friends in construction and real estate are happier than you? Turns out it isn’t just your imagination.
According to online career site CareerBliss.com, those are some of the happiest and unhappiest fields to work in right now.
“As the world of work continues to evolve, CareerBliss has found that workers are striving for more than a paycheck out of their careers,” says Heidi Golledge, chief executive of CareerBliss. “They are looking for fulfillment and happiness. Understanding which industries truly foster growth and happiness for their workers will enable other industries to take note and begin to improve. Additionally, workers and students can use this information to find themselves a happier path. “
Our list of the happiest and unhappiest industries to work in, compiled by CareerBliss, is based on more than 73,400 independent employee reviews. Employees all over the country were asked to evaluate ten factors that affect workplace happiness. Those include one’s relationship with the boss and co-workers, work environment, job resources, compensation, growth opportunities, company culture, company reputation, daily tasks, and control over the work one does on a daily basis.
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They evaluated each factor on a five-point scale and also indicated how important it was to their overall happiness. The numbers were combined to find an overall rating of employee happiness for each respondent, and then they were sorted by field to find the six happiest and six unhappiest industries (as defined by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)). To qualify for the list, 100 employee reviews were required for each industry.
Heading the list of the unhappiest industries to work in is retail trade, with an index score of 3.71. Retail workers expressed the most pessimism about growth opportunities and compensation.
“Unfortunately, the ability to be creative and grow in these roles are limited. However, we have seen break out stars such as Nordstrom turning retail into a happy place,” Golledge says.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the retail trade sector comprises “establishments engaged in retailing merchandise, generally without transformation, and rendering services incidental to the sale of merchandise. The retailing process is the final step in the distribution of merchandise; retailers are, therefore, organized to sell merchandise in small quantities to the general public.”
The second least happy workers are those in the administrative and support, and waste management and remediation services industry. It earned an index score of 3.71. Workers in this field are very dissatisfied with their growth opportunities and compensation, but they’re also very happy with their colleagues and daily work tasks.
The U.S. Census Bureau says workers in this industry perform routine support activities for the day-to-day operations of organizations. Activities performed include: office administration, hiring and placing of personnel, document preparation and similar clerical services, solicitation, collection, security and surveillance services, cleaning, and waste disposal services.
Transportation and warehousing, wholesale trade, accommodation and food services, and arts, entertainment and recreation round out the list of the six unhappiest industries to work in.
“While many workers enjoy the arts and entertainment industry, very low growth opportunities leave employees feeling insecure about the jobs, and overall less happy,” Golledge says.
CareerBliss also compiled a less gloomy list: The Happiest Industries To Work In.
If you’re hoping to smile more at work, think about switching to a job in utilities or education. Those are some of the industries where workers are happiest.
But the most blissful employees of all are those who work in the management of companies and enterprises sector. With an index score of 3.92, these workers said they are more than satisfied with the people they work with and the control they have over their daily tasks.
The management of companies and enterprises industry is defined by the NAICS as “establishments that hold the securities of (or other equity interests in) companies and enterprises, for the purpose of owning a controlling interest or influencing management decisions, or; establishments (except government establishments) that administer, oversee, and manage establishments of the company or enterprise and that normally undertake the strategic or organizational planning and decision making role of the company or enterprise. Establishments that administer, oversee, and manage may hold the securities of the company or enterprise.”
The real estate, rental and leasing industry follows close behind in the No. 2 spot, with a 3.91 index score. Rounding out the top three: Utilities, with a 3.90.
“Overall, the happiest industries for workers are those where they get to have control over the work that they do and respect for their management,” Golledge says. “CareerBliss finds that the industries with the happiest workers thrive in providing growth opportunities to their employees, as well as foster a strong dedication to the company they work for and also the person the employees work for.”
Here are the six unhappiest industries to work in (click over to Forbes for the happiest industries):
