Job satisfaction in the UK lowest since 1989, Resolution Foundation analysis finds

Job satisfaction among workers in the UK has fallen to a record low. This is according to an analysis by the think tank Resolution Foundation, reported on 5 November 2026 by the Polish Express website.

What the data shows

According to the analysis, the share of people satisfied with their work fell from 81% in 2015 to 74%. This is the lowest result in the British Social Attitudes survey since 1989, when it was first measured.

Willingness to go the extra mile has also dropped. In 2015, 69% of workers said they were prepared to work harder than their duties required to support their employer. In 2025, the figure was 55%.

The share of people who find their job interesting also fell over the decade, from 74% to 63%. Meanwhile, only 4% of respondents said their job had little intrinsic value. That share has been stable for years.

Pay and flexibility

The authors link the decline in mood to a lack of flexibility, job insecurity and a loss of independence at work. More people are also complaining about low pay. The problem affects workers at all pay levels.

Hannah Slaughter, an economist at the Resolution Foundation and co-author of the report, pointed to decades of low pay rises and sharply rising living costs. In her view, workers are looking for flexibility, independence and financial security, but many feel these expectations are not being met.

Slaughter warned that this "satisfaction drain" is bad not only for workers. She said it is also a poor sign for productivity and labour supply, which are key to improving living standards in the coming years. She also mentioned a reduced willingness to work full time.

What this means for you

The analysis covers workers across the UK as a whole and does not single out Poles or other migrants. However, it suggests that disappointment with pay, a lack of flexible working and a sense of job insecurity are widespread in the UK and are not limited to one income group.