The surprising jobs in Australia where employees feel the happiest – and the roles which are the most stressed

Workers in hospitality and retail enjoy their jobs much more than those who chose call centers or government offices, a new survey shows.

Workforce management app Deputy this week released its annual Shift Pulse Report for 2024, analyzing global employee satisfaction.

The company obtained data from more than 500,000 Australian employees who were asked how their shifts were going while they were clocking in.

Jobs in cafes and hospitality topped the list of happiest places to work, while jobs in government, construction and call centers scored the lowest for employee satisfaction.

Of the two largest industries, the majority of hospitality workers responded to the survey during the shift by saying they felt ‘great’, although retail workers showed slightly more stress.

Construction workers, government workers and people working in call centers rounded out the list, reporting the highest levels of stress and frustration in their jobs

Cafe workers were the happiest because their jobs are social and respected, said Katrina Holt, Deputy’s chief customer officer.

“Australia is known for its world-class coffee and love of café culture, so it’s not surprising the sector tops the list of happiest workers,” Ms Holt said.

‘The social nature of café work, together with the opportunities for creativity and working in a vibrant atmosphere, have helped these employees feel most satisfied at the end of their shifts.’

Lucas Sullivan, head of retail at coffee chain Single O, told 7News that his was “a job like no other.”

“We serve as a community center not only for local customers, but also for tourists and travelers from around the world,” he said.

“Being directly involved in that and brightening their days is what really drives us.”

Employees at gyms and fast-food restaurants reported similar levels of job satisfaction, with at least 57 percent of staff at each gym saying they routinely enjoyed their shifts.

According to the report, as many as 16 percent of government employees end their shifts feeling frustrated and stressed

11 percent of call center employees also left work with a bad feeling, compared to 4 percent of employees in 2023

However, government, call center and construction workers consistently answered the delegate’s survey in the opposite direction.

As many as 16 percent of government workers ended their shifts feeling stressed or frustrated, as did 11 percent of call center workers, up from 4 percent in 2023.

Employees in each of these sectors cited challenging working conditions as the main reason for their dissatisfaction.

Of the states and territories surveyed, 87 percent of people worked in the Northern Territory said they felt “great” after their services.

In Tasmania it’s the exact opposite, with workers experiencing the highest levels of stress and frustration, according to the report.