Do Most People Like Their Jobs? Kind Of- 5 Stunning Reasons

In general, do people enjoy what they do for a living? Do most people like their jobs?

Within the last few years, most people have liked their jobs; however, a small number are not in love with their work. So their jobs make a difference if they find their work fulfilling.

I will review some statistics regarding job satisfaction in this article. I will then discuss five reasons why some people are unhappy at work.

  1. Job Satisfaction Numbers
  2. They’re Thinking Of Quitting- Eventually
  3. They’re Doing Something On The Side
  4. Their Jobs Involve Repetitive-Tedious Tasks
  5. They See Their Job As An Excuse To “Get By”
  6. They’re Not Able To Be Creative In Their Jobs
Do most people like their jobs? People may be planning to quit their job at some point in time.

Job satisfaction numbers

According to Zippia, there are no universal agreements on people being satisfied with their work. In other words, a lot of people do not enjoy their jobs.

Here’s the breakdown based on a recent report:

  • 65% of American workers are satisfied with their jobs
  • 20% of them are passionate about what they do for a living
  • Nearly half of them were somewhat satisfied with their work

Based on this report, there are some reasons why these numbers came about, including the following:

  • Income levels (which may vary)
  • Work schedules (set schedules or flexible?)
  • Work location (at the office or remote work)

So yes, we can say that the majority of people like their jobs. But on the other hand, I want to go over the 20% of people who are passionate about the work they do. 

That small number is what concerns me the most, as that can be a problem. So for the remaining 80% of people who are “not passionate” about their jobs, here are five possible reasons for that.

Do most people like their jobs? Here's a graph laying out the numbers of workers- when it comes to their jobs.

Do most people like their jobs?

A majority of people enjoy what they do for a living. While at the same time, they’re not passionate about the work they perform, which can be a problem. Let’s discuss five reasons why that’s the case.

They’re thinking of quitting- eventually

Some people don’t feel happy not doing work that’s meaningful to them. There’s no sense of fulfillment or being inspired on a personal level.

So when the time comes that they’re bored and move on, they’ll submit their resignation letter to their employer. Although not an easy decision, it’s an inevitable one to make at some point.

Do most people like their jobs? People may be planning to quit their job at some point in time.

The Great Resignation (2021-present)

Since 2021, American workers have been throwing in the towel and calling it quits on their jobs. This period is commonly referred to as the “Great Resignation”.

It’s unclear how long it will go or what the final outcome will look like. But at the moment, it’s going to be a rough transition in the coming years.

The bigger question is if people have been looking for work after quitting. Or did they get offered better jobs? 

Based on what I researched, there’s no clear indication of what people are actually doing after resigning from their jobs.

They’re doing something on the side

It’s not uncommon for workers to do a little side hustle. As I always mention, I refer to it as a business- if that’s the long-term goal.

It may be on a part-time basis if their primary work is a full-time job. But their intentions may be to take it full-time and quit their job.

My current situation

At the moment, I’m employed working a full-time job. But in my free time, I maximize most of it working on my business. 

My long-term goal is to eventually transition out of my job within the next few years. Once I’m earning consistent revenue and want to take the business full-time, I will quit my job to get more time to work on my business.

Do some people love their jobs?

People who love their jobs take into consideration of decent pay and a stress-free work environment. If those things are met, people will enjoy the jobs they have.

Do most people like their jobs? 5 reasons they don’t like them

Their jobs involve repetitive-tedious tasks

Some of the most boring jobs involve doing grunt work. I can attest to that myself, and it’s not the most exciting part about the jobs I’ve had.

Some common examples may include administrative, manufacturing, or basic customer support (i.e. call center work). They are not challenging or require you to think outside the box.

Also, they don’t help you strengthen your skillset (or lead to better job prospects). Moreover, the longer people are in these jobs, it’s possible they’ll become unhappy over time.

Do most people like their jobs? A lot of jobs involve repetitive tasks, or what we refer to as grunt work.

They see their job as an excuse to “just get by”

A lot of people work jobs primarily to pay the bills and get by in life. Sure, they have to take care of themselves and provide for their families. 

But, working should involve more than exchanging your time for a paycheck. As I wrote in a previous post, there is no such thing as job security. No matter what the reasons are, anyone can get laid off and lose employment at any time.

They’re not able to be creative in their jobs

When people have jobs that involve menial or repetitive tasks, there are no real opportunities for creativity. Being creative is what sparks people’s interests the most, leading to new ideas being implemented.

In a job where you cannot express your creativity, it can be hard to feel passionate about what you do. I believe having a job that involves you being creative can bring the best out of you at times.

Do most people like their jobs? A lot of people are not able to be creative in the jobs they have.

Although it remains to be seen, automation and artificial intelligence will come to a point where they’ll take over these types of non-creative jobs. The fact is that it’s inevitable and will happen sooner or later.

The best part about it is the new opportunities that will come about in the future. People can look forward to employment opportunities if it means the ability to do creative work.

Relevant article from notimekillers.com

Read next on “What’s the worst part about working? My top takeaway”, and find out what I don’t enjoy the most about working a traditional job.

Are you passionate about the work you do?

Do you find yourself in this situation right now? Or are you doing something that you’re passionate about? 

Either way, I encourage you to make it a priority to focus on your passions and interests. Getting out of the rat race is possible if you’re willing to take the necessary steps.

If you want to do work that excites you (while creating another income stream), feel free to check out my top recommendation. It’s the best platform for starting your own business, and then scaling down the road.

Get started on the right path today. Plus, you’ll get all the help and support needed to get going (even from myself). 

Final Words 

Overall, people like their jobs, but at the same time, they’re not passionate about the work they do. In recent years, I’m not surprised that’s the case.

As I discussed earlier, the jobs that exist today don’t bring out the best in people. In other words, it does not allow people to reach their full potential.

With the current trends in place (such as the Great Resignation), it remains to be seen what the labor force will end up looking like in the next five-ten years. Will it be drastically different than it is today? 

It’s anyone’s guess what will happen. We’ll have to wait and see what happens, but whatever happens, everyone could enjoy better opportunities.

Your Turn: Do you enjoy your job?

I would like to get your thoughts on this issue. Are you working at a job that doesn’t excite you most of the time?

Is your job a place you look forward to going to every day? Or do you dread going in when you don’t feel like it?

Is there anything you can do to change your situation? If so, how will you do it? Will you make a transition plan to leave your job in the future?

Feel free to share your thoughts by leaving a comment below. I look forward to reading your responses, and I’ll gladly respond promptly.

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Eric is the owner and chief editor of notimekillers.com. 

He takes great pride in helping people manage their time and grow their businesses. 

Eric is a firm believer in financial and time freedom, as he believes in financial independence and taking ownership of your time. 

“Time is your most important asset. It can be your best friend or worst enemy. How you use your time can shape the future you desire to have.” 

In his leisure time, Eric loves to write and read whenever possible. He enjoys going for long walks outdoors while doing in-home workout videos every week. 

You can also connect with Eric via LinkedIn.

Self Photo 2019: Here's a picture at a building in downtown Chicago.

4 thoughts on “Do Most People Like Their Jobs? Kind Of- 5 Stunning Reasons”

  1. I liked the website but is there not a contradiction here? 65% say they are satisfied with their jobs but most people don’t like their jobs. 

    I agree that there has been a work or job revolution that occurred because of COVID-19, and the fact many people worked from home for the last 2 years. I know it’s a big chore getting up in the morning and going to work.

    But according to the Centers for Disease Control, the pandemic is over. So bosses like Elon Musk say it’s back to work at the job site! 

    People got used to working from home and they don’t want to go back to the worksite. So many have decided to drop out and seek new ways of making money. 

    Not hard to figure out why. We are essentially lazy and if we can live without working why not? 

    There are thousands waiting at the southern border willing to take over the drudgery of low-paying jobs.

    Reply
    • Hi,

      I don’t disagree with the points you made. Based on what’s happened in recent years, a lot has changed (for the worse but for the better).

      It’s hard for some people to go back into the office. Why? I think the answer is not surprising.

      Luckily, there are new ways to make money today. The best part is there will be more opportunities in the coming years.

      Those are some great points you made. Thank you very much for sharing your insights- they’re greatly appreciated.

      Reply
  2. Hey Eric,

    So, yes. I do enjoy my job, but I understand why so many people don’t like their jobs. 

    I think the pandemic taught us that there is so much that can be done without us coming into an office. 

    I’m a high school teacher, and right now, I think we may be at our most challenging point of education. 

    But I think that’s why I like it. It’s a challenge that I’m always trying to fix, and I really prefer being around young people as opposed to grumpy adults.

    All of the reasons that you listed here are the exact reason that I left the “office” type of job and wanted to do something different.

    Reply
    • Hi Tia,

      What’s taken place in the last few years has taught us a lot of lessons. What you went through is not uncommon, and something that needs to be discussed more often.

      It’s good you made that decision to leave if you want something different. So you made some valid points.

      Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts- they’re very much appreciated.

      Reply

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