A recent study reveals that happy workers are 13 percent more productive, yet 65 percent report work as a significant source of stress.
Emphasising happiness through recognition, purpose, and workplace friendships is essential for boosting productivity and job satisfaction. In light of this, Digital PR Agency has ranked industries based on employee happiness.
Here’s a look at how different sectors fare in promoting mental health and a balanced lifestyle for their workforce.
Top Industries with the Happiest Workers
| Industry (UK) | Happiness Score (%) | Tier |
| Technology | 76 | Ecstatic |
| Marketing and Advertising | 74 | Thrilled |
| Non-profit Organisations and Charities | 73 | Thrilled |
| Financial Services | 73 | Thrilled |
| Construction and Building Materials | 73 | Thrilled |
| Entertainment and Media | 72 | Very Happy |
| Real Estate, Rental, and Leasing | 72 | Very Happy |
| Business and Management Services | 72 | Very Happy |
| Other | 71 | Very Happy |
| Architecture and Design | 71 | Very Happy |
| Advanced Manufacturing and Services | 71 | Very Happy |
| Hospitality | 71 | Very Happy |
| Energy and Utilities | 71 | Very Happy |
| Education and Research | 70 | Content |
| Travel and Leisure | 70 | Content |
| Legal Services | 70 | Content |
| Telecommunications and Publishing | 70 | Content |
| Health and Social Care | 70 | Content |
| Agriculture, Animals, Forestry, and Fishing | 70 | Content |
| Manufacturing of Consumer Goods | 69 | Content |
| Public Sector and Government | 69 | Content |
| Transportation and Logistics | 69 | Content |
| Chemicals, Mining, and Metals Manufacturing | 68 | Satisfied |
| Wholesale | 68 | Satisfied |
| Defence | 67 | Satisfied |
| Retail | 67 | Satisfied |
The Digital PR Agency used real-time happiness ratings from Workl.com, categorising industries into tiers from “Ecstatic” to “Satisfied.”
Ecstatic: Technology (75-100%)
The Technology industry tops the list with a happiness score of 76 percent, making it the only sector in the “Ecstatic” tier. Technology’s flexibility, high demand for jobs, and substantial salaries contribute to its high happiness levels. Forbes notes that remote work, common in tech, boosts happiness by 20 percent.
Thrilled: Marketing, Finance, Charities, and Construction (73-74%)
Marketing and Advertising lead the “Thrilled” tier with a 74 percent happiness score. Financial Services, Non-Profit Organisations and Charities, and Construction and Building Materials follow closely with 73 percent. The University of East Anglia highlights that good management and a strong social environment are key to employee happiness in these industries.
Very Happy: Entertainment, Real Estate, Architecture, Manufacturing, Hospitality, and Energy (71-72%)
Industries in the “Very Happy” tier, scoring 71-72 percent, include Entertainment and Media, Real Estate, Rental and Leasing, Architecture and Design, Advanced Manufacturing and Services, Hospitality, and Energy and Utilities. Despite mid-level salaries in Hospitality, improved employee benefits have enhanced job satisfaction. The Media sector has long embraced flexible working hours, contributing to higher happiness levels.
Content: Education, Travel, Legal, Telecom, Health, Agriculture, Public Sector, and Transportation (69-70%)
Scoring 69-70 percent, these industries face challenges like long hours and high stress. Social workers, for example, often work over 80 hours a week, and partners at law firms are working significantly more hours than in previous years. A large percentage of teachers consider leaving due to high workloads.
Satisfied: Chemicals, Mining, Wholesale, Retail, and Defence (67-68%)
The least happy industries, scoring 67-68 percent, include Chemicals, Mining and Metals Manufacturing, Wholesale, Retail, and Defence. Retail, in particular, struggles with employee happiness; a report reveals that only about half of retail workers find their work meaningful, and 72 percent report regular boredom.
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
