The analysis found that in the past decade between 2015 and 2025, job satisfaction in the UK decreased from 81% to 74%, the lowest figure recorded in any wave of the British Social Attitudes survey.  

The analysis also found that people were less willing to go above and beyond at work, with the proportion of workers willing to work harder than required to help their employer succeed falling from 69% in 2015 to 55% in 2025.  

The most recent wave of the BSA was published in June 2026, with fieldwork conducted between August and October 2025.

The analysis identified an increased desire for flexibility – the proportion for whom it is important to be able to decide their own working hours increased from 46% to 61%. The most recent survey found that only a third ( 31%) say they can do that in their job.

According to the analysis, the proportion of participants saying a high income is important when choosing a job increased from 67% to 78%, with 23% feeling that their job provides a high income.

There has also been a sharp decline in the proportion of working age adults who wish to work full-time – 47%, compared with 57% in 2015. According to the analysis, this decline is entirely accounted for by men, among whom the figure fell from 77% to 62%, whereas the proportion of women wanting full-time work is, at 38%, little changed.

Hannah Slaughter, principal Economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: "Britain’s labour market has changed significantly over the past decade, and so too have people’s expectations of work. Our analysis suggests that workers increasingly want jobs that provide flexibility, independence and financial security. But many feel those expectations are not being met."

"The result is rising frustration among workers, who report lower job satisfaction, declining willingness to go above and beyond, and a reduced appetite for full-time work. This ‘dissatisfaction drain’ is self-evidently bad for workers, but it also doesn’t bode well for productivity and labour supply, both of which are vital for lifting living standards in the years ahead." 

Sir John Curtice, co-editor of the British Social Attitudes report, said: "This invaluable analysis suggests that, for the most part, the current difficulties in Britain’s labour market cannot simply be accounted for workers’ attitudes. Young people have not become more ‘work-shy’, nor have workers in general become more reluctant to change jobs. But if workers are to be fully engaged in their work, it has seemingly become more important for employers to provide jobs that are both financially rewarding and have flexible work hours."