UK job satisfaction at record low amid rising frustration over pay and flexible working
Resolution Foundation study finds workers are less willing to go ‘above and beyond for employers than a decade ago’ Job satisfaction among UK workers has dropped to a record low, a
By The Guardian
Job satisfaction among UK workers has fallen to its lowest recorded level, with employees increasingly frustrated by pay, flexibility and a lack of independence at work.
Resolution Foundation analysis of the 2025 British Social Attitudes survey found that 74% of workers said they were satisfied with their jobs, down from 81% in 2015.
The figure is the lowest recorded in any wave of the survey since the question was first asked in 1989.
The research also found that workers are less willing to put in extra effort for their employers. The proportion saying they would go above and beyond to help their employer fell from 69% in 2015 to 55% in 2025.
Employees are placing greater importance on being able to choose their own working hours. The share saying this was important rose from 46% to 61% over the decade, but only 31% said they had that option in their current job.
The Resolution Foundation said workers increasingly wanted jobs offering flexibility, independence and financial security. It warned that many felt those expectations were not being met.
The survey also showed a fall in the number of people describing their work as interesting. The proportion dropped from 74% in 2015 to 63% in 2025.
Researchers said the results pointed to growing frustration among workers, alongside a reduced appetite for full-time employment.
The 2025 survey involved 4,656 people aged 16 and over across the UK, questioned between late August and early October.
The Resolution Foundation said employers may need to offer better pay and more flexible working arrangements if they want to improve engagement and job satisfaction.