Dan Simmons, CPC

Dan Simmons, CPC

Top 5 Aspects of Job Satisfaction According to SHRM Survey

By Dan Simmons, CPC

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has given an Employee Job Satisfaction Survey every year since 2002. Results of the 2015 survey show that 88% of U.S. employees feel satisfied overall with their current job. This is the highest level of job satisfaction in ten years, with 37% reporting they are “very satisfied” and 51% saying they are “somewhat satisfied.”

This shows that there are a larger percentage of employees saying they are only satisfied to a certain extent, signaling room for improvement. Something similar was found when asked about their level of satisfaction toward their employer: 40% said they were “very satisfied,” while more, at 45%, said they were “somewhat satisfied.”

Since the economy has stabilized over the past few years, organizations can perhaps now offer more of the incentives they eliminated during the recession. At the same time, an uptick in the economy means more job opportunities. Nearly half (45%) of employees said they would “likely or very likely” be looking for another job, one outside their current place of employment, in the next year, although job satisfaction is at a 10-year high. Employers would be wise not to ignore this!

Which factors contribute most to job satisfaction among employees?

The survey revealed the top 5 aspects of job satisfaction:

  1. Most important was that all employees were being treated respectfully at every level (67%). This was the second year in a row respectful treatment appeared as number one in terms of job satisfaction.
  2. Next in line was overall compensation/pay; with 63% of employees saying their level of pay makes gives them the most satisfaction. Pay placed fourth in 2014, so this is quite a jump to number 2, however it has been consistently in the top 5 since 2002.
  3. Overall benefits came in third, with 60% expressing that this as the most important aspect of job satisfaction. And again, this has consistently appeared in the top 5, except for the year 2012.
  4. Job security came in fourth; with 58% of workers saying this was “very important” in terms of their level of satisfaction.
  5. In fifth place there was a tie between two factors: trust between the employees and top management, and opportunities to utilize their skills and abilities.

The SHRM Survey clearly shows that in today’s economy the keys to retaining/attracting talent is by respecting your people, making them feel appreciated, providing great pay and benefits, offering job security in a trusting environment and allowing them to develop and use their skills and abilities to the fullest. If you don’t someone else just might!

To view the SHRM Survey in its entirety:

https://www.shrm.org/Research/SurveyFindings/Articles/Documents/2016-Employee-Job-Satisfaction-and-Engagement-Report-Executive-Summary.pdf