Skip navigation

Unveiling the key drivers of job satisfaction: Insights for people leaders

The recently conducted survey by The Conference Board sheds light on key drivers that shape employee satisfaction and offers valuable insights for organizations aiming to enhance their workplace environments.

A man works from home at the kitchen table. His child is also at the table, drawing a picture.A man works from home at the kitchen table. His child is also at the table, drawing a picture.

Table of contents

Text LinkText Link

As the work landscape evolves, understanding the factors contributing to job satisfaction becomes paramount for HR, people operations and other business leaders. A recently conducted job satisfaction survey by The Conference Board sheds light on key drivers that shape employee satisfaction and offers valuable insights for organizations aiming to enhance their workplace environments.

We've distilled the most critical insights from the survey, giving people leaders a quick and easy way to stay up to date on the latest research.

1. We are seeing record-high job satisfaction.

  • Overall job satisfaction among U.S. workers reached its highest point since 1987.
  • The surge in satisfaction is attributed to a tight labor market and the prevalence of flexible work arrangements.
  • Work-life balance, workload and performance review processes experienced significant gains in satisfaction.

2. Job switching boosted job satisfaction.

  • Workers who switched jobs after the pandemic reported higher satisfaction levels across various job components.
  • Job fatigue emerged as a prominent reason for women quitting their jobs, highlighting the need for addressing burnout and mental health concerns.
  • Organizations must consider gender inequities, particularly in benefits and promotion decisions.

3. Flexibility in work locations contributed to job satisfaction.

  • Employees with hybrid work arrangements demonstrated the highest levels of job satisfaction.
  • Flexibility and the ability to switch employers more easily in a tight labor market contributed to higher satisfaction levels.
  • Hybrid workers reported greater satisfaction in pay, benefits, access to training and other components of job satisfaction.

4. A positive work culture can significantly boost job satisfaction.

  • Work experience and organizational culture emerged as the primary determinants of employee retention.
  • Workplace culture outweighed pay as a crucial factor in retaining employees once competitive compensation was met.
  • Quality of leadership, work-life balance and growth potential played critical roles in employee satisfaction and retention.

5. Traditional benefits like retirement and health insurance have minimal impact on job satisfaction.

  • While benefits such as family leave, retirement and health insurance are essential, they ranked lowest in overall job satisfaction.
  • Only 7.1 percent of job satisfaction variance was attributed to benefits.

According to research from The Conference Board, offering flexible, hybrid work arrangements and focusing on work experience and organizational culture are vital for creating a satisfying work environment. Beyond competitive pay, attention should be given to addressing burnout, promoting mental health and ensuring equal opportunities for career growth. By understanding these drivers, leaders can make informed decisions that enhance job satisfaction, foster employee engagement and contribute to the overall success of their organizations.

Prioritize your people. Recognize the impact.

Employees want their companies to see them as whole people. That’s why impactful learning programs are proven to boost retention (and make recruitment easier).

Electives is an enterprise live learning platform that makes impactful learning possible. We streamline your planning, curation, administration and measurement so you can deliver better quality learning (and greater job satisfaction) with less effort.

Learn more about the Electives use cases

Latest resources

Learn more about creating a culture of learning throughout our resources below.

People developing people: Unveiling the secrets of HR leadership in building thriving work cultures
Electives team
 
May 26, 2023

People developing people: Unveiling the secrets of HR leadership in building thriving work cultures

Hamutal Oren-Fox, an esteemed expert and the Chief People Officer at Venn City, shares practical perspectives on thriving work cultures.
People developing people
Empowering ERG leaders: Key strategies for success
Electives team
 
May 17, 2023

Empowering ERG leaders: Key strategies for success

As organizations strive to foster diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within their culture, employee resource groups (ERGs) have emerged as valuable assets, contributing to an organization's success.
In the news
Electives co-founder and CEO Jason Lavender in Business Ninjas
Electives team
 
May 16, 2023

Electives co-founder and CEO Jason Lavender in Business Ninjas

Jason Lavender, Electives co-founder and CEO, was recently interviewed by Kelsey McDonald on the Business Ninjas podcast, sponsored by WriteForMe.
In the news
Embracing neurodiversity in the workplace: A framework for HR leaders
Electives team
 
May 10, 2023

Embracing neurodiversity in the workplace: A framework for HR leaders

By creating an inclusive environment that values neurodiversity, we can empower all individuals to reach their full potential. Here are 3 ways you can embrace neurodiversity within your organization.
DEI
DEI holidays to celebrate in June 2023
Electives team
 
May 5, 2023

DEI holidays to celebrate in June 2023

We compiled a comprehensive list of June DEI holidays you may want to observe throughout your organization.
Holidays
Electives, Inc. to launch Electives Membership on June 1
Electives team
 
May 4, 2023

Electives, Inc. to launch Electives Membership on June 1

A new employee benefits program, Electives Membership lets employers give their employees individualized live learning opportunities.
Press releases

View all posts

Custom LEARNING PROGRAMS

Let us help you build the learning program that is right for you.

Decision making can be complex! Especially when there are so many good choices and so little time in the day. That's why we offer customized onboarding. We'll help you define your objectives, map your strategy and develop a plan for meaningful learning impact.

Contact our sales team to learn more

Learn more