Are you happy at work?

SEEK's Workplace Happiness Index has found that only 55% of Australians report that they feel happy at work. Which leads to the question – are you happy at work?

The inaugural survey asked over 1,200 workers across a broad range of roles and positions how happy they currently are with different areas of their work, including work-life balance and senior management.  

What impacts happiness at work? 

Having purpose at work is the most important contributor to happiness for Australian workers.

Australians also consider their manager, day-to-day responsibilities, company culture and stress levels as the most important factors in their happiness at work after purpose at work.  

Talkin' about our generations: Happiness by generation

The youngest generation of workers, Gen Z, is the least happy generation at work, with only half (50%) saying they are happy at work. And on the flipside, Baby Boomers are the most happy at work (61%).  

However, it may not be for the reasons that you think – with Gen Z being least happy with their career progression opportunities and senior leadership.

Seeking more joy in your job? Here are some things you can try

Whether it's day-to-day responsibilities, stress levels, or your relationship with your team, SEEK's Happiness Index has highlighted that many different factors impact our happiness at work.

If you know what's making you unhappy at work, it becomes easier to take action. The first step is communication – talk to those around you, particularly your manager, to see if changes can be made.

Do you want to have a conversation with your manager but are unsure what to say? We have some tips to get you started on topics like:

• discussing boundaries at work
• management styles and how you like to be managed
• hybrid working opportunities
• having a conversation about pay with your boss.

Not happy at work? Here's what you can do

Sometimes, there are factors beyond your control (such as a toxic workplace or a bad boss) impacting your happiness. If that's the case, it may be time to consider your next move:

• Explore new roles with SEEK's high job satisfaction careers
• Explore the culture and benefits of Australia's top-rated companies with SEEK's Company Profiles – everything you need to know about a company, all in one place
• With salary and remote working search filters, use SEEK to find your next role

Access the complete Workplace Happiness Index Report here.

Source: Research conducted for SEEK by Nature, between April and June 2024 via an online survey. Responses were gathered from over 1,200 individuals currently in the workforce (either employed or looking for work), aged 18-64, and living in Australia.