"Significant" reduction in worker contentment found in Germany
According to a recent study, the level of job satisfaction among employees in Germany has taken a significant hit. Only 45% of the workforce is now happy and positive about the future, a drop of eight percentage points compared to the previous year, Gallup shared on June 9th. Moreover, the percentage of individuals experiencing work-related stress has slipped somewhat, but remains elevated.
The stress level has receded by one percentage point, but continues to exceed the European average, which stands at 37%. Germany ranks 20th in terms of job satisfaction, as per a survey conducted across 38 European countries. In total, 17 countries saw a more negative self-assessment of life this year than last, with Ireland witnessing a reduction similar to Germany.
Marco Nink of Gallup attributed the decline in satisfaction to the widespread fear of country decline, reduced competition, and Germany's positioning at the bottom of growth in Europe. The study also suggested that the high stress levels and shrinking job satisfaction could indicate that employees increasingly feel powerless to impact the factors that affect their lives.
Another concerning trend is the growing risk of burnout. The percentage of individuals who acknowledged feeling emotionally drained from work stress in the past 30 days has risen from 26% pre-COVID to 37% in the most recent survey.
