Job Satisfaction on the Rise, But What’s Keeping Talent Feeling Fulfilled?

Satisfaction, with all due respect to the Rolling Stones, seems to be something plenty of people are getting—at least when it comes to work. In fact, U.S. workers are getting 5.7% more of it than they were last year, according to the 2025 Conference Board Job Satisfaction survey. But that’s only part of the story.

From the impact of workplace culture (it’s on the rise) to the influence of compensation (spoiler alert: it may not be as important as other factors), this week’s Five on Friday dives into what people say makes them feel satisfied on the job, why some are more satisfied than others, where employers can help boost the positive sentiment and more.

More Satisfied Than Ever

Well, at least since 1987, when the first Conference Board Job Satisfaction survey was released. In this year’s survey, more than 68% of employees said they were satisfied with their jobs—the highest such number in all the survey’s years. Job satisfaction has been on the rise for 15 consecutive years (43% in 2010 was the low-water mark), but that 5.7% increase we mentioned a few moments ago is the biggest-ever bump from one survey to the next.

The Top Five Factors

So, what’s behind that satisfaction? Fair wages and benefits always play a role, but they were not the most important factors on people’s minds. According to the study, the top five factors when it comes to job satisfaction are Interesting work, quality of leadership, a strong workplace culture, a reasonable workload and recognition.

“If you can deliver on those as an employer, then not only are you going to have satisfaction, you’re going to have high retention,” notes ECLARO Co-Founder Paul Sheridan. “When you’re connecting candidates and companies, we’ve always emphasized the importance of addressing the culture fit, making sure that the type of work a role requires will keep the candidate motivated and engaged, assessing the leadership style that a candidate will thrive under. It’s not only about hiring the Right People but keeping the Right People.”

The Generation Gap

Among people age 55 and older, 72.4% expressed satisfaction with their jobs, while only 57.4% of US workers under the age of 25 said the same (this was the only age group to experience a decline in satisfaction in the survey).

“While mid- and late-career workers are reaping the benefits of improved leadership, manageable workloads and meaningful work, younger workers are still searching for the right culture fit,” Allan Schweyer, Principal Researcher, Human Capital at The Conference Board, said in a release. “This highlights a need for more personalized strategies to engage early-career talent.”

The Right Toolbox

Not everybody agrees about everything. Except, perhaps, for one thing. Among the 27 “drivers” the survey asked responders to consider, the results dropped from the last survey among responders in every demographic for only one category: Quality of Equipment.

“Today’s workforce wants to have access to the best possible technology and tools,” says ECLARO Co-Founder Tom Sheridan. “Technological advances are moving faster than ever, and it can be a challenge for companies to keep pace, especially when you consider the significant costs for employers to continuously update equipment. But we’ve found that the right tools help the Right People reach their fullest potential, regardless of their role.”

Is the Grass Always Greener, or More Satisfying, on the Other Side?

People who switched jobs did in fact report a higher level of satisfaction, but it was less than a 1% difference—70.5% of job switchers said they were satisfied compared to 69.6% of job stayers. Among the reasons given for making a career change, the two leading factors were culture and growth opportunities.

Yes, let’s say it again…finding a fit between a candidate and a workplace’s culture matters. Helping people grow in their careers matters. Recognizing people for their contributions and effort matters. Being motivated and engaged matters. Strong leadership matters. Above all else, having the Right People matters. Satisfied?