UK job satisfaction falls to lowest level since 1989

Declining engagement and interest

Job satisfaction among UK workers fell to 74% in 2025, according to a Resolution Foundation study based on the 2025 British Social Attitudes survey. This 74% figure is the lowest recorded since 1989, when the survey first asked the question. The analysis shows that a lack of flexible working, insecure jobs and a loss of independence have undermined how workers feel about their employment and their willingness to help their employers succeed. The proportion of workers who said they would work harder than required to help their employer succeed fell from 69% in 2015 to 55% in 2025. Only 4% of workers said there was "little intrinsic value" from working, a figure that has remained flat. The number of people feeling positive about the jobs they do has declined, as the percentage of workers with an interesting job or opportunities for advancement fell from 74% in 2015 to 63% in 2025. The study also shows that workers feel less independent in their roles.

Pay and flexibility pressures

Hannah Slaughter, an economist at the Resolution Foundation, says low pay concerns span all pay scales. She says decades of low pay-rises and the spiralling cost of living affect all groups, while the demand for greater flexibility remains pronounced. "Workers increasingly want jobs that provide flexibility, independence and financial security. But many feel those expectations are not being met," Slaughter says. This "dissatisfaction drain" affects productivity and labour supply, which are vital for lifting living standards in the years ahead. John Curtice, a professor at the University of Strathclyde, says employers must provide jobs that are financially rewarding and have flexible work hours to ensure workers remain fully engaged. He notes that young people have not become more work-shy, nor have workers in general become more reluctant to change jobs. The findings suggest that economic inactivity among certain groups, including younger people, could be linked to these changing work preferences and low levels of job mobility. Ipsos polling supports these findings, showing that 69% of workers were satisfied in 2026, compared to 83% in 1976.