Surprising survey of American job satisfaction

Shift Worker Morale on the Rise Despite Negative Consumer Sentiment

In a time when consumer sentiment is at an all-time low, there is a glimmer of positivity among shift workers. According to a recent survey released by Deputy, a global firm specializing in schedule management, human resources, and related services, shift workers’ attitudes towards their jobs have actually improved over the past year.

The annual survey revealed a slight increase in employees feeling positive about their jobs, with 78.9% of workers reporting feeling good at the end of their shifts, up nearly half a percentage point from the previous year. On the other hand, the number of workers feeling unhappy decreased to 5.9%, the lowest reading in the survey’s four-year history.

While other surveys indicate widespread anxiety about finances and job security, the positive shift in shift workers’ attitudes comes amidst demographic changes in the workforce. Gen Z, the generation born between 1997 and 2012, now makes up the largest sector within the shift-based workforce.

“This shift in attitude is significant given the changing workforce landscape,” said Silvija Martincevic, CEO of Deputy. “Different generations report varying experiences at work, making the transition to Gen Z workers an important factor in this year’s results.”

Best and Worst Places to Live and Work

Breaking down the survey results by category, the happiest place to work was found to be as a casino worker in Rhode Island, with a 100% positive rating among respondents. The state’s thriving hospitality and tourism industries contributed to its perfect score.

Overall, hospitality ranked highest with an 82.98% positive rating, followed closely by retail at 82.62%. Healthcare, on the other hand, had the lowest positive rating at 72.89%, despite being a leading industry in job creation.

Other sub-sectors with high positive ratings included firearms stores (89.53%), cafes and coffee shops (89.50%), and accommodation (84.09%). On the flip side, tobacco, e-cigarette, and marijuana stores (13.34%), animal health (13.07%), and care facilities (11.55%) received the highest negative responses.

Geographically, Alaska ranked second after Rhode Island with a 95.35% positive rating, followed by Hawaii at 92.89%. Conversely, Arkansas (12.68%), New Hampshire (12.31%), and the District of Columbia (11.11%) had the most negative ratings.

Generationally, Alpha workers scored the highest positives at 88.88%, with Gen Z coming in second at 78.42%. Interestingly, there was a growing number of respondents who simply felt “okay” about their work, with this category increasing to 15.2% and being the fastest-growing group.

“Maintaining high workplace morale requires reliable scheduling, fair pay, and meaningful appreciation,” the survey stated. “Neglecting these fundamental needs can lead to disengagement or employee turnover, ultimately resulting in workers becoming neutral or leaving the organization altogether.”