Many Americans Are Unhappy at Work

The old adage goes, "Do what you love and love what you do." But the truth is that the majority of U.S. employees (52.8 percent) aren't satisfied with their jobs, according to a recent survey from The Conference Board. The good news is that a fair share of the board's annual survey data is trending upward. But, overall, the numbers still convey much-needed room for improvement. In fact, the last time a majority of Americans wore that proverbial "smiley face" to work was in 2005, when 52.1 percent of U.S. employees said they were happy with their jobs. (Back in 1987, more than six out of 10 employees were content at work.) "While we are seeing positive movement in the right direction, this trend may signal increased satisfaction with simply having a job rather than demonstrate increased engagement or happiness," says Rebecca Ray, senior vice president of human capital at The Conference Board. Workers from more than 5,000 households took part in the research.