2017 Employee Job Satisfaction and Engagement: The Doors of Opportunity Are Open

This research analyzed 44 aspects of job satisfaction and 38 factors influencing employee engagement, focusing on career development, management relationships, compensation, work environment, and engagement dynamics. The executive summary highlights key contributors to job satisfaction, their importance and satisfaction levels, and actionable improvement recommendations.

Key Findings

• High Job Satisfaction and Engagement:
  89% of U.S. employees reported being satisfied with their jobs. The employee engagement index of 3.9 suggests a moderately engaged workforce.

• Respectful Treatment as a Top Priority:
  For the third consecutive year, respectful treatment of employees across all levels ranked as the most critical factor in job satisfaction. Notably, perceptions of this aspect varied among different demographic groups.

• Trust in Leadership is Growing:
  Trust between employees and senior management gained prominence, rising by six percentage points compared to 2015.

• Compensation Gaps:
  Compensation showed the most significant disparity between importance and satisfaction, with a 35-percentage-point gap. It may be linked to a nine-point decline in employees receiving bonuses in the past year despite the number of raises remaining consistent with previous years.

• Retention Challenges:
  Despite high satisfaction and engagement, 40% of employees indicated they might seek employment elsewhere within the following year. Unsurprisingly, compensation/pay was the top factor influencing decisions to stay or leave.

These findings emphasize the need for organizations to address compensation concerns, foster trust in leadership, and ensure respectful treatment of all employees to sustain engagement and reduce turnover risks.