London follows Dublin in 2016 rank of Top EU cities for Job Happiness, says Indeed

• Job Happiness Index -- London #2 in Top 10 EU cities; UK ranks at #22 globally
• Globally, work-life balance correlates more strongly with job happiness than salary/benefits

The world’s largest job site, Indeed, has launched its first global Job Happiness Index. The happiness ranking rounds up Indeed’s 10 million company reviews to show which employees give the highest marks for areas such as work-life balance, management and salary/benefits.

Through analysis of job satisfaction in major cities in the EU, Indeed has created a ‘Top 10 Cities for Job Happiness’. Dublin tops the list, followed by London and Stockholm.

Top 10 EU Cities for Job Happiness, 2016

• Dublin
• London [1]
• Stockholm
• Rome
• Madrid
• Amsterdam
• Paris
• Brussels
• Vienna
• Berlin

Bill Richards, UK Managing Director at Indeed, commented: “Given how much time we spend in our jobs, workplace happiness is an important metric for employers to consider. Our data shows that long-term employee loyalty can be won with robust policies around work-life balance, leadership and company culture.”

He adds: “While London fares well in our Happiness Index, the UK as a whole clearly has some work to do in improving employee happiness. The very best talent will demand better for themselves - beyond salary and benefits, they will gravitate towards opportunities that are employee-centric. Employers must respect the employee as an individual, whose life and interests extend far beyond the workplace.”

Whether workers are old or young, or whether they live in advanced or developing economies, the most important contributing factor to job happiness is the degree to which employees are able to find harmony between the demands of work and their personal lives.

Top 25 Countries for Job Happiness

As well as cities, the Index also ranks job happiness by country, in which the UK sits at number 22. Colombia ranks highest for job happiness globally while Japan ranks last. Globally, job satisfaction is most strongly correlated with work-life balance scores - by contrast, compensation ranks last on the list of measures employees consider when reporting on their job satisfaction. The mix of developed and undeveloped countries in the ranking reflects the findings that happiness at work is driven by factors beyond economic wealth or even wellbeing.

Indeed’s Bill Richards adds: “Salary and benefits consistently rank as the least significant factor when it comes to considering what makes people happy at work. However, although the work-life balance correlates closely with overall job satisfaction, some of the contributing factors are ranked differently across cultures—and as we progress through our careers, our needs and expectations adjust.”

www.indeed.com

^[1] London's Happiest Jobs: “managing director” sits atop a list of jobs that also includes “carpenter” as well as “teaching assistant” and “IT support.” Reviews for these roles often include language that stresses excitement and variety—such as “demanding but very rewarding” and “there is no typical day at work.”