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The UK's unhappiest workers - retail staff, nurses and teachers The UK's unhappiest workers – retail staff, lawyers and accountants
(2 months later)
Shop assistants, nurses and teachers are among the unhappiest workers in the UK when it comes to their pay, according to a survey that highlights widespread dissatisfaction after years of falling real wages. Shop assistants, legal workers and accountants are among the unhappiest workers in the UK when it comes to their pay, according to a survey that highlights widespread dissatisfaction after years of falling real wages.
Ministers have seized on news that average pay growth is now faster than inflation, but behind the headline numbers there is still plenty of evidence many households are not feeling any better.Ministers have seized on news that average pay growth is now faster than inflation, but behind the headline numbers there is still plenty of evidence many households are not feeling any better.
Averages only tell part of the story and it is no surprise that a survey from jobs search engine Adzuna highlights as unhappiest those workers in the squeezed public sector as well as retail and hospitality, both sectors that have come under fire for low pay and the use of zero-hour contracts. Averages only tell part of the story and a survey from jobs search engine Adzuna highlights that some of the unhappiest workers are in retail and hospitality, both sectors that have come under fire for low pay and the use of zero-hour contracts.
Consultants are the happiest profession, on the other hand, with just one in five voicing complaints about their annual earnings. Workers in the technology and manufacturing sectors were also among the most content, according the poll of some 1,000 UK workers.Consultants are the happiest profession, on the other hand, with just one in five voicing complaints about their annual earnings. Workers in the technology and manufacturing sectors were also among the most content, according the poll of some 1,000 UK workers.
Unhappiest workers:Unhappiest workers:
Retail - 65% dissatisfied with current payLegal - 63% dissatisfied with current payHospitality & Catering - 59% dissatisfied with current payHealthcare & Nursing - 51% dissatisfied with current pay Teaching & Education - 50% dissatisfied with current pay Retail - 64% dissatisfied with current payLegal - 64% dissatisfied with current payAccountancy & Finance – 59% dissatisfied with current payHospitality & Catering - 59% dissatisfied with current payConstruction – 58% dissatisfied with current pay
Happiest workers:Happiest workers:
Consultancy - 20% dissatisfied with current pay Manufacturing - 36% dissatisfied with current payIT & technology - 40% dissatisfied with current pay HR & Recruitment - 46% dissatisfied with current pay Charity & Non-profit - 47% dissatisfied with current pay Consultancy - 20% dissatisfied with current pay Manufacturing - 36% dissatisfied with current payIT & technology - 39% dissatisfied with current pay HR & Recruitment - 46% dissatisfied with current pay Energy, Oil & Gas - 47% dissatisfied with current pay
Unsurprisingly, after the longest squeeze on real pay for decades, the survey found more than half (52%) of Britain’s employees were unhappy with their pay. A mere 3% are completely satisfied with their current salary level.Unsurprisingly, after the longest squeeze on real pay for decades, the survey found more than half (52%) of Britain’s employees were unhappy with their pay. A mere 3% are completely satisfied with their current salary level.
But Adzuna, which says it has come up with a way for people to calculate their “market value”, suggests now is a good time to ask for a pay rise.But Adzuna, which says it has come up with a way for people to calculate their “market value”, suggests now is a good time to ask for a pay rise.
Adzuna co-founder Andrew Hunter says:Adzuna co-founder Andrew Hunter says:
Wages have been stagnant and consistently lagging behind inflation. That said, our data suggests that employers across the country are starting to lift the lid on rates of pay.Wages have been stagnant and consistently lagging behind inflation. That said, our data suggests that employers across the country are starting to lift the lid on rates of pay.
The picture from the search engine’s vacancies and salary data echoes the latest official figures showing that annual wages increased by an average of 1.8% in the year to November, the fastest pace for two years.The picture from the search engine’s vacancies and salary data echoes the latest official figures showing that annual wages increased by an average of 1.8% in the year to November, the fastest pace for two years.
That means wages were also finally rising faster than inflation, meaning pay rises in real terms. But again, behind the average numbers, the picture is uneven and varies by region as well as profession.That means wages were also finally rising faster than inflation, meaning pay rises in real terms. But again, behind the average numbers, the picture is uneven and varies by region as well as profession.
The survey suggests the most dissatisfied workers are based in the east of England, where almost two-thirds of those surveyed felt underpaid. That was closely followed by the East Midlands and Scotland. Employees in the south-west were happiest with their pay, followed by the north-west and London.The survey suggests the most dissatisfied workers are based in the east of England, where almost two-thirds of those surveyed felt underpaid. That was closely followed by the East Midlands and Scotland. Employees in the south-west were happiest with their pay, followed by the north-west and London.
For anyone contemplating a change of career to secure higher pay, Adzuna has also compiled a list of sectors with the fastest-rising wages and the slowest.For anyone contemplating a change of career to secure higher pay, Adzuna has also compiled a list of sectors with the fastest-rising wages and the slowest.
Biggest improvements in pay over the last 12 months:Biggest improvements in pay over the last 12 months:
(change in average advertised salary in year to January)(change in average advertised salary in year to January)
Trade & Construction Jobs +10.4%Trade & Construction Jobs +10.4%
Scientific Jobs +10.3%Scientific Jobs +10.3%
IT Jobs +10.2%IT Jobs +10.2%
Manufacturing Jobs +8.4%Manufacturing Jobs +8.4%
Sales Jobs +8.1%Sales Jobs +8.1%
Sectors seeing stagnation / falls in pay over the last 12 months:Sectors seeing stagnation / falls in pay over the last 12 months:
Hospitality & Catering Jobs -2.1%Hospitality & Catering Jobs -2.1%
Energy, Oil & Gas Jobs -0.55%Energy, Oil & Gas Jobs -0.55%
PR & Marketing Jobs -0.44%PR & Marketing Jobs -0.44%
HR Jobs -1.1%HR Jobs -1.1%
Healthcare & Nursing Jobs 0%Healthcare & Nursing Jobs 0%
• This article was amended on 6 March 2015. An earlier version claimed incorrectly in the headline and first paragraph that nurses and teachers were among the UK’s unhappiest workers with regard to their pay. That error occured as a result of mistakes in information provided by Adzuna about its survey, as did several other errors in the information listed in the earlier version of the article under the subheadings “Unhappiest workers” and “Happiest workers”.