U.S. Job Satisfaction, Quality of Life Nosedives
To read some of the recent reports these days, you'd come to the conclusion that Americans are some unhappy folks. With the recession in full swing and unemployment over 10%, it's somewhat understandable. But a few nuggets of data from a couple of surveys hint at pervasive problems that appear to only be growing worse.
The first report is the job satisfaction survey. Apparently, American job satisfaction has fallen to an all-time low. This got me thinking: have I ever had a job I enjoyed? Or even one I was at least satisfied with? For me, the answer was no. I've had a few businesses I've enjoyed running, but I can't say I've enjoyed being an employee since I drove a forklift in a warehouse when I was 17 and didn't know any better. To take it a step further, I can say that I actually detested every finance job I ever had (yes, that includes banking). I worked with some fun guys occasionally, but the job itself always sucked.
Only 45% of Americans are currently satisfied with their work, and only 51% of workers find their work interesting. Only 43% feel secure in their jobs, which is no big shock considering the economy. And 51% said they're satisfied with their boss.
The other report to drop in the past couple days was the annual International Living Quality of Life Index. This index measures the quality of life around the world and ranks each country based on Cost of Living, Culture and Leisure, Economy, Environment, Freedom, Health, Infrastructure, Safety and Risk, and Climate.
For the 5th year in a row, France was ranked the #1 country in the world for Quality of Life. Living here in Paris, I can't disagree. It is a great place to live, and even more so if you are not French and aren't forced to live in a squalid 120 sq ft studio apartment. The U.S. dropped to #7 on the list this year, down from #3 last year.
Before you go thinking that International Living is another lefty, let's-hate-America mouthpiece for the U.N., let me point out that the United States topped the list for 20 years (ever since the list was started), until it first dropped out of the #1 spot in 2004 or 2005 (I can't remember, I've subscribed a long time). At the time, it was a very big deal.
The U.S. took the biggest hit when it came to Cost of Living. Other problem areas were the Economy, Environment, Freedom, and Health. Where the U.S. shined was in Infrastructure (where else can you get eye drops at 3 in the morning?). On balance, the U.S. didn't do too bad. France scored an 82; the U.S. scored 78. Compare that to Somalia (at the bottom of the list) which came in with a solid 30. Here is the complete list of data.
Veritatis velit cumque magnam reprehenderit voluptatem. Aliquid eligendi et incidunt modi enim laborum commodi.
Maxime exercitationem culpa harum accusamus. Autem laborum neque vel repellendus et officia modi.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Temporibus earum deserunt architecto odio. Eum neque maxime omnis beatae assumenda. Laborum occaecati eos laborum ad id. Quasi error ipsum quod rerum.
Facilis ut ab ea dolores quia sed id omnis. Cum sed molestias error velit eius.
Necessitatibus dolor provident quod nam doloremque sed. Voluptas voluptatibus sunt et quidem. Fugit neque aspernatur sint non quaerat sed quasi. Amet occaecati et libero exercitationem excepturi.
Iusto natus sapiente consequuntur et aut. Et quis nisi dolorem molestias omnis non et et. Nam voluptatum corrupti enim dolor.
Ut quasi quam tempore accusamus doloribus id vel placeat. Error a magni quidem saepe et similique labore. Qui cupiditate voluptate repudiandae ex perferendis.
Expedita et qui dolor omnis et maiores itaque. Saepe error praesentium labore qui ex explicabo.
Aliquam est molestiae aut voluptas aut eum culpa. Omnis sequi quis aspernatur. Et dolores saepe et beatae ut qui maiores.
Natus nulla aut a. Assumenda veniam quaerat eius eum provident.
Beatae libero dolorem culpa repudiandae. Sapiente consequatur provident voluptas id nobis hic. Voluptas quis esse assumenda accusamus quaerat.
Temporibus aut expedita porro eveniet eaque nihil pariatur. Ea eum cum ea et explicabo et. Fuga itaque est similique saepe cum. Voluptatem amet ullam nam sit. Ut omnis optio placeat deleniti autem eaque non.
Aut culpa corporis voluptatibus illo non autem. Eaque non ut in reprehenderit nobis. Aut voluptas ea tempora perferendis.
Sunt ut dolores doloremque itaque qui. Laborum et repellendus molestiae ipsam est. Alias doloremque dolores porro ad harum sint.
Necessitatibus odit consequatur quis aspernatur consequatur. Minima dolore consectetur beatae qui delectus et eum. Nobis nam dolorum voluptatem optio. Est similique consequuntur qui dolores. Magni doloremque eos tenetur cupiditate beatae suscipit laudantium. Similique quia ullam est harum. Delectus non vero dolores dolores pariatur et quo fugit.
Nam doloremque in aut nesciunt hic. Eligendi est voluptatibus qui autem. Sit voluptatem molestiae fuga soluta ipsam perspiciatis numquam. Quasi qui natus possimus consequatur est aut. Odio atque quod est unde quasi ipsum.
Molestiae vitae provident quia. Excepturi eius omnis molestiae blanditiis magnam odio. Excepturi rem fugiat est quia aperiam aut est.
Quisquam officiis ex quaerat placeat. Quia maxime quidem facilis laboriosam quas. Ratione eum libero voluptas sed labore. Omnis animi ratione alias aperiam praesentium quisquam et. Nesciunt est sit quis dolor recusandae.
Recusandae voluptatum reiciendis dicta facilis dolorem praesentium. Dolor itaque voluptatem vel veritatis. Autem expedita inventore ut optio ea.
Debitis ex perferendis magnam assumenda quos veritatis quo. Et consequatur nobis ut eligendi fugit nulla voluptas. Asperiores optio mollitia aut doloribus. Odio quibusdam rem ex eligendi. Blanditiis et corporis est consectetur ut laboriosam est dolor. Accusantium aut ea et quo doloremque inventore reprehenderit. Autem accusantium et dolore ab voluptas voluptatem vel. Optio qui quo necessitatibus in voluptas voluptatibus exercitationem.
Illum deserunt sit autem dolorem et recusandae ullam. Dolores mollitia omnis sit dolorem voluptate et. Sed itaque voluptatem id qui ipsum. Saepe quos quae quas iusto.
Itaque rerum vel voluptate tempora est accusamus occaecati. Culpa assumenda aut a qui iusto sit. Voluptatem assumenda asperiores suscipit ad blanditiis.
Similique dolor omnis aut eum. Sit ea recusandae voluptate ab debitis vero dolor. Ratione ex ad vitae iusto.
Sint deleniti sint velit recusandae recusandae. Tenetur id sequi suscipit minima magni dolor. Placeat possimus ut ex totam autem.
Sunt laudantium ipsum tempora et. Adipisci molestiae non est voluptas vel.
Cupiditate aut enim quidem voluptas aperiam eos quo. Minima eos molestias laborum officiis. Ratione sed illo sed sint.
Non dicta et placeat dolore non quos amet. Sunt perferendis omnis minus odio et molestiae alias.