UK Job Satisfaction Hits Record Low as Workers Seek Better Pay and Flexibility - Startups and venture capital

A Resolution Foundation analysis of the 2025 British Social Attitudes survey found that job satisfaction fell to 74%, its lowest level since the question was first asked in 1989. Workers were also less likely than a decade ago to say they would put in extra effort to help their employer succeed.

Job satisfaction among UK workers has fallen to a record low, with concerns about pay, flexible working, job security and independence contributing to growing frustration, according to analysis by the Resolution Foundation.

The study, based on the 2025 British Social Attitudes survey, found that 74% of workers were satisfied with their jobs, down from 81% in 2015. It is the lowest result since the survey began asking the question in 1989.

The share of workers who said they would work harder than required to help their employer succeed also declined, from 69% in 2015 to 55% in 2025. Meanwhile, the proportion who described their job as interesting fell from 74% to 63%, and fewer workers said their role offered the chance of advancement.

The foundation said the findings could help policymakers consider how to address long-running challenges including slowing productivity growth, low job mobility and high economic inactivity among some groups, particularly younger people. Only 4% of workers said their jobs offered “little intrinsic value”, a proportion the thinktank said had remained stable. Instead, it found that fewer people felt positive about the work they do.

Hannah Slaughter, an economist at the Resolution Foundation and co-author of the report, said concerns about low pay had increased across pay levels. She pointed to years of weak pay rises and the rising cost of living, alongside workers’ demand for greater flexibility.

“Workers increasingly want jobs that provide flexibility, independence and financial security. But many feel those expectations are not being met,” Slaughter said. She added that falling satisfaction and a reduced willingness to go beyond required duties could affect both workers and productivity.

Separate Ipsos polling also found lower reported satisfaction with work than in earlier surveys. The proportion who said they were very or fairly satisfied was 69% in 2026, compared with 83% in 1976.

John Curtice, a professor at the University of Strathclyde and co-editor of the British Social Attitudes report, said the findings did not indicate that young people had become more reluctant to work or that workers generally were less willing to change jobs. Rather, he said, financial rewards and flexible hours appeared increasingly important to keeping workers engaged.

Sources: The Guardian Business.