Forget stress - most feel 'fulfilled' by work

A study carried out for The Work Foundation revealed that over two thirds of employees described their jobs as providing "personal fulfilment" to them, with just 9% branding their position as "meaningless".

The survey of over 1,000 working people also showed that most (60%) felt their work had got better since the beginning of their working lives.

As many as 78% of those questioned said they found their work "stimulating and challenging", while 69% said their work was a "source of personal fulfilment".

Personal dividends

Will Hutton, chief executive of The Work Foundation, said: "Traditionally, work has been seen as purely a grim economic necessity, which there is no getting out of, and little more to be said about.

"Our survey indicates that that view is no longer a fair reflection of how people feel. Today, work is increasingly thought of as a source of fulfilment, an important aspect of life that matters to people in a very personal way.

He added: "Employers and organisations are going to have to think much harder about the jobs they offer. The wage packet still matters, but there are crucially important psychological, social, and personal dividends from work, too. It is about money and meaning.

"Well over two thirds of workers regard work as a source of personal fulfilment to them, but only a very few employers ever succeed in making the most of this huge personal appetite for work that more and more people have."

'Good work'

The study showed that women were slightly more likely to be satisfied with their job compared to men. The over-55s were also more likely to be satisfied with their job compared to younger workers, especially those aged 16-34 years.

Likewise, managers and professionals were more likely to be satisfied compared with other occupational groups. This was reflected in the results when it came to pay, with those earning over £50,000 per year being more likely to be satisfied compared to those earning less money.

The study marks the launch of a new website by The Work Foundation, which has been redesigned to reflect the organisation's on-going campaign for "good work".

The Foundation describes good work as that which "equips people to perform to the best of their abilities, while simultaneously allowing them fulfilling working lives."