Business · Economy · 3 hrs ago
UK job satisfaction falls to its lowest level since 1989
A UK survey found job satisfaction at 74% in 2025, its lowest level in any wave since 1989 and down from 81% in 2015.
The British Social Attitudes survey asked 4,656 people aged 16 and over across the UK between late August and early October 2025.
The share of working-age adults who wanted full-time work fell from 57% to 47% over the decade, even as the share actually working full-time rose from 57% to 60%.
The fall was driven by men: 62% said they wanted full-time work, down from 77%, while the figure for women was broadly unchanged at 38%, compared with 37% in 2015.
Men aged 30 to 49 saw a particularly sharp fall, from 86% to 67%, and fewer workers said their jobs were interesting or offered chances to advance.
Researchers say the reasons for the shift are not yet clear and point to possible changes in work-life priorities, health problems and family care duties.
Working fewer hours may help some people, but it can also reduce their earnings and affect the wider economy, while more workers now value control over their hours than a decade ago.
A British Social Attitudes survey found that 74 per cent of people polled were satisfied with their work, the lowest level recorded since 1989.
That figure was down from 81 per cent in 2015.
The share of working-age adults who wanted to work full-time fell from 57 per cent in 2015 to 47 per cent in 2025, a decline the research attributed entirely to men.
Men aged 30 to 49 saw a 19-percentage-point drop in their preference for full-time work.
Workers were also less likely than in 2015 to report interesting jobs, advancement opportunities or willingness to work harder for their employer.
- Who
- The British Social Attitudes survey found lower job satisfaction among people in the UK. The Resolution Foundation analysed the results.
- What
- Job satisfaction fell to its lowest level in the survey’s records since 1989, while fewer working-age adults said they wanted to work full-time.
- When
- The 2025 survey was conducted between the end of August and early October. The results were reported on 3 November 2026.
- Where
- Across the UK.
- Why
- The research said the decline in working-age adults’ preference for full-time work was driven entirely by men. The reasons for the drop are not established; the Resolution Foundation economist cited possible factors including changing work-life priorities, health issues and caring responsibilities.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The British Social Attitudes survey interviewed 4,656 people aged 16 and older across the UK.
The survey findings were reported, including the record-low job satisfaction figure.
- Job satisfaction in 2025
- 74 per cent
- Job satisfaction in 2015
- 81 per cent
- Working-age adults wanting full-time work
- 47 per cent in 2025, down from 57 per cent in 2015
- Men aged 30 to 49 wanting full-time work
- 67 per cent in 2025, down from 86 per cent in 2015
- Survey sample
- 4,656 people aged 16 and older across the UK
What people are saying
I would certainly want to know more about what exactly was driving it before jumping to "work shy", given there's lots of other things going on.
I think there's probably a lot going on.
working fewer hours 'can be a positive thing in some cases, depending on why that's happening'