Overall, the most satisfying aspects of work included relationships with co-workers, managers or supervisors and the commute, for those who have one. Image: Tanoy1412/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffJob satisfaction increases with age, although those still working at age 65 and beyond are just as likely to view work as only something to help them get by as to view it as a career, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center.
“Among workers ages 65 and older, two-thirds say they are highly satisfied with their job. Just 43% of workers ages 18 to 29 say the same,” while the figures for those 30-49 and those 50-64 were 48 and 56 percent. In contrast, 17 percent in the youngest group said they are not too or not at all satisfied with their jobs, compared with just 6 percent of those 65 and older.
The dissatisfaction rates for the middle two age groups were 11 and 10 percent, while the difference in each case was those who are “somewhat” satisfied. Not surprisingly, levels of satisfaction also were strongly correlated to salary levels and their view of how well salary correlates to the amount and quality of work done.
Overall, the most satisfying aspects of work included relationships with co-workers, managers or supervisors and the commute, for those who have one. Pay and opportunities for promotion cause the most dissatisfaction, while flexibility with working hours and flexibility to work remotely fell in the middle.
Just 28 percent of those in the youngest group view their job as a career, a figure that rises to 55 and 62 percent over the next two age groups but then drops to 49 percent for those 65 and older. The youngest group was by far the most likely to view their job as a stepping stone to a career, 33 percent, while 38 percent said it was “just a job to get them by.”
About a third of the next two age groups considered their job just something to help them get by but among the oldest group that rose to 50 percent.
“To further explore older workers’ views, we asked those ages 65 and older why they are currently working,” it said. “The majority (56%) say they work both because they need the money and because they want to work. Another 26% say they work mainly because they want to, while 17% say it’s mainly because they need the money.”
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