Job satisfaction by country research summary: Job satisfaction has been improving through the years, but even so, not all countries are equal. Some countries have impressively high job satisfaction, while others have fallen behind. We’ve investigated the average job satisfaction across 34 countries, and according to our research:
Key Takeaways:
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The average job satisfaction globally is 56.7%.
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India has the highest job satisfaction of 89%.
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Japan has the lowest job satisfaction of 42% and double the job dissatisfaction rates compared to the rest of the bottom 5.
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The US has an average job satisfaction of 78%, putting it within the top 5 countries for job satisfaction.
Average job satisfaction by country
| Rank | Country | Satisfied | Neutral | Dissatisfied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 89% | 8% | 3% |
| 2 | Mexico | 85% | 11% | 4% |
| 3 | Turkey | 80% | 15% | 5% |
| 4 | Norway | 79% | 12% | 7% |
| 5 | US | 78% | 15% | 6% |
| 6 | Denmark | 78% | 16% | 4% |
| 7 | Spain | 77% | 15% | 7% |
| 8 | Argentina | 75% | 16% | 9% |
| 9 | Brazil | 74% | 16% | 9% |
| 10 | China | 74% | 21% | 5% |
| 11 | Canada | 74% | 20% | 6% |
| 12 | UK | 74% | 20% | 7% |
| 13 | Malaysia | 73% | 19% | 7% |
| 14 | Poland | 73% | 19% | 8% |
| 15 | Chile | 73% | 19% | 8% |
| 16 | Austria | 72% | 18% | 8% |
| 17 | Germany | 71% | 18% | 9% |
| 18 | Belgium | 71% | 18% | 8% |
| 19 | Switzerland | 71% | 20% | 8% |
| 20 | Romania | 70% | 23% | 6% |
| 21 | Netherlands | 70% | 21% | 7% |
| 22 | Luxembourg | 70% | 21% | 8% |
| 23 | Australia | 70% | 20% | 10% |
| 24 | Italy | 69% | 21% | 9% |
| 25 | New Zealand | 68% | 22% | 10% |
| 26 | Portugal | 68% | 18% | 14% |
| 27 | France | 68% | 19% | 12% |
| 28 | Sweden | 66% | 23% | 10% |
| 29 | Greece | 65% | 27% | 8% |
| 30 | Czech Republic | 64% | 27% | 8% |
| 31 | Hungary | 64% | 25% | 10% |
| 32 | Singapore | 61% | 28% | 10% |
| 33 | Hong Kong | 49% | 40% | 11% |
| 34 | Japan | 42% | 30% | 21% |
Countries with the highest job satisfaction
Job satisfaction is an essential metric for understanding productivity, turnover rates, and work-life balance. With that in mind, we’ve gathered a list of the top 10 countries with the highest average job satisfaction – something to consider next time you consider moving.
Top 10 countries by job satisfaction
| Country | Share of satisfied workers |
|---|---|
| India | 89% |
| Mexico | 85% |
| Turkey | 80% |
| Norway | 79% |
| US | 78% |
| Denmark | 78% |
| Spain | 77% |
| Argentina | 75% |
| Brazil | 74% |
| China | 74% |
Of this group of countries, India has the highest average job satisfaction, with 89% of employees saying they’re either very satisfied or satisfied with their work. Only three countries overall have an average job satisfaction of 80% or higher: India, Mexico, and Turkey.
Major players like the US and China are also on the top 10 list, with average job satisfaction rates of 78% and 74%, respectively.
Countries with the lowest job satisfaction
Most countries have modest job dissatisfaction rates (10% or less), but Japan stands out. The country’s shocking dissatisfaction rate of 21% means employees in Japan are 2x more likely to be dissatisfied compared to others in the bottom 10, and 7x more likely to be dissatisfied compared to employees in India.
Here is a comprehensive chart of countries with the most dissatisfied employees:
Top 10 countries by job dissatisfaction
| Country | Share of dissatisfied workers |
|---|---|
| Japan | 21% |
| Portugal | 14% |
| France | 12% |
| Hong Kong | 11% |
| Singapore | 10% |
| Hungary | 10% |
| Sweden | 10% |
| New Zealand | 10% |
| Australia | 10% |
| Italy | 9% |
While these countries don’t show the complete picture of job dissatisfaction globally, as the global dissatisfaction rate is 30.15%, Japan does have much higher dissatisfaction rates than any other country on this list. Portugal, France, and Hong Kong are the only other countries with dissatisfaction rates higher than 10%.
Job satisfaction by country FAQ
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What country has the highest job satisfaction?
India has the highest average job satisfaction, at 89%. Only 3% of Indian workers are dissatisfied with their work.
Interestingly, India also has one of the lowest per capita incomes on this list, at $1,670 per year (ranked 112 out of 164 countries). This shows that income is not directly linked with job satisfaction, and instead, other factors like recognition, advancement opportunities, flexible scheduling, and culture play a more prominent role.
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Is job satisfaction a global concept?
Yes, job satisfaction is a global concept and can be measured worldwide. However, it can be difficult to accurately measure job satisfaction in countries with high poverty rates or a low freedom index.
In part, this is why Japan likely doesn’t have the highest job dissatisfaction, but rather, is just one of several dissatisfied workforces that are easier to measure.
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Are Americans satisfied with their jobs?
Yes, most Americans are satisfied with their jobs (78%). Only around 6% of Americans are dissatisfied with their jobs. This ranks the US within the top 5 countries with the highest average job satisfaction rates.
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How do you measure job satisfaction in the workplace?
You measure job satisfaction in the workplace by surveying employees, as well as measuring productivity and turnover rates. Surveys can be given as annual questionnaires that gauge employee attitudes and allow you to compile data. If you’re an employee, surveys are a great opportunity to express what you need to have higher levels of job satisfaction.
Likewise, high productivity and low turnover rates, while not having a direct causal relationship, can also indicate a more satisfied workplace.
Conclusion
Job satisfaction can be challenging to measure in many countries, but the ones we do have measurements for paint a clear picture of global trends. While the average job satisfaction rate globally is 56.68%, countries like India, Mexico, and Turkey stand out with average job satisfaction rates of 80% or higher.
On the other hand, Japan has the lowest average job satisfaction compared to other countries. Only 42% of Japanese workers are satisfied with their jobs, while 21% are dissatisfied.
Ultimately, the different cultures, traditions, and economic situations of countries all impact the average job satisfaction rates. Likely, many countries with lower dissatisfaction rates have yet to be surveyed, so this information must be taken as pieces of a larger puzzle.
References
Author
Jack Flynn is a writer for Zippia. In his professional career he’s written over 100 research papers, articles and blog posts. Some of his most popular published works include his writing about economic terms and research into job classifications. Jack received his BS from Hampshire College.
