Hospitality and retail workers enjoy their jobs much more than those who opted for call centers or government offices, a new study reveals.
Workforce management app Vice this week released its annual Shift Pulse report for 2024, which analyzes global employee satisfaction.
The company obtained its data from more than 500,000 Australian workers who were asked how their shifts were going while clocking in.
Cafe and hospitality jobs topped the list of happiest places to work, while jobs in government, construction and call centers earned the lowest scores for worker satisfaction.
Of the two major industries, most hospitality workers responded to the end-of-shift survey saying they felt “amazing,” although retail workers showed slightly higher stress levels.
Cafeteria workers are the happiest in the country according to the MP’s second annual Shift Pulse report, which measures employee satisfaction.
Construction workers, government workers and those working in call centers rounded out the list, reporting the highest levels of stress and frustration in their jobs.
Cafe workers were the happiest because their jobs are social and respected, said assistant director of customer service Katrina Holt.
“Australia is known for its world-class coffee and love of coffee culture, so it’s no surprise the sector topped the list of happiest workers,” Ms Holt said.
“The sociable nature of coffee shop work, along with opportunities for creativity and working in a vibrant atmosphere, has contributed to these workers feeling more satisfied at the end of their shifts.”
Lucas Sullivan, retail director at coffee chain Single O, told 7News that his was “a job like no other.”
“We serve as a community center, not only for local customers but also for tourists and travelers from around the world,” he said.
“Being directly involved in this and brightening their days is what really motivates us.”
Employees at gyms and fast food establishments reported similar levels of job satisfaction, and at least 57 percent of staff at each said they regularly enjoyed their shifts.
According to the report, up to 16 percent of government workers end their shifts feeling frustrated and stressed.
11 percent of call center employees also left work feeling unwell, up from 4 percent of workers in 2023.
However, government, call center and construction workers consistently responded to the Deputies survey in the opposite direction.
Up to 16 percent of government workers ended their shift on a stressed or frustrated note, as did 11 percent of call center employees, up from 4 percent in 2023.
Workers in each of these industries cited difficult working conditions as the main reason for their dissatisfaction.
Among the states and territories surveyed, 87 percent of people who worked in the The Northern Territory said they felt “amazing” after their shifts.
In Tasmania the opposite is true, with workers feeling the highest levels of stress and frustration, the report said.