Czech employees in these industries feel the most career satisfaction

How do Czech employees define job satisfaction? According to a new survey, enjoyable workplace activities and being part of a friendly team are the most important aspects of finding happiness at work.

The results of the survey, conducted by Grafton Research, suggest other drivers of overall satisfaction in the workplace as well as which professions have the most satisfied employees in the Czech Republic.

Another key aspect of work satisfaction revealed by the report was employer helpfulness. Sixty percent of those surveyed describe their boss as helpful in their attempts to balance work and personal life, while only 51 percent believe their employer cares about employees. Thirty-eight percent of those polled say they lack an inspiring boss and good career prospects.

“People who are helped by their employer like their job, and are less eager to change. This support then returns to the employer in the form of higher employee satisfaction and loyalty,” said Martin Malo, Director of Grafton Recruitment and the GI Group.

Finances, unsurprisingly play a key role in employees’ feelings of job satisfaction. A lack of financial reward is behind the desire to change jobs in 64 percent of cases, according to Grafton.

In terms of which sectors reported the most satisfied employees, the IT and business service sectors lead the way. Employees in the manufacturing sector, however, reported lower job satisfaction and complaints about poor pay.

Feelings of fatigue and exhaustion, along with the perennial problem of low wages, are often cited as key detractors of workplace satisfaction and were found to demotivate almost a third of respondents. Those in the sales and marketing sector most often reported feeling tired and stressed.

Malo says that in many cases overtime work, which is often undertaken by up to a fifth of employees, can lead to higher levels of stress and burnout. "Around half of the employees surveyed said they occasionally work above and beyond their usual responsibilities while a tenth reported that they almost never work more,” she added.

Over half of respondents said they want to change jobs in the coming period, but only 22 percent are actively seeking out new opportunities. Even though many Czech companies are offering vacancies, applicants are being cautious given the current economic crisis.

While complications may lie ahead for the Czech labor market due to the arrival of Ukrainian refugees, market analysts say the influx of people could help stabilize the economy.

In research cited by Aktualně.cz over half of Czech companies are interested in the possibility of taking on Ukrainian refugees to help fill labor shortages.

In the end, is it a good time to seek out a career change in the Czech Republic?

As Expats.cz reported last year, the tight labor market and the spiraling cost of living put employees in a good position to make a change or even give them the upper hand in negotiating money matters with the boss.