Public sector workers more satisfied, poll finds

New research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has found that public sector employees are largely happier with their roles than those in the private sector.

Despite impending redundancies for thousands of state-funded staff, the CIPD's latest satisfaction index rose to 42 – an increase of 11 points – two digits above the happiness level of private sector workers.

"When faced with an uncertain outlook, employees place more value on simply having a job," said senior public policy adviser Ben Willmott. "They are also less likely to look enviously over the fence and think the grass may be greener."

However, more respondents across both sectors stated that their standard of living had fallen than risen and one-quarter of public staff quizzed felt they were likely to lose their job over the coming months.

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Earlier this week, the Office for Budget Responsibility announced that redundancies in the public sector over the coming years are set to be lower than initially anticipated.

Posted by Ross George