From Smiles to Frowns: A State-by-State Look at Hourly Worker Happiness

America's workforce is feeling the strain due to labor shortages, with varying levels of happiness reported at the end of the day, as per Deputy's Shift Pulse Report. Oregon boasts the happiest hourly workers, followed by North Carolina, Virginia, and Connecticut, which also had the highest stress levels. Indiana and Oklahoma reported higher levels of unhappy workers, indicating a diverse range of job satisfaction across different states.

Ken Avery June 18, 2024

In today’s fast-paced society, where the workforce is feeling the strain of a labor shortage, it’s crucial to examine how job satisfaction can vary among employees. The latest Shift Pulse Report from Deputy sheds light on the diverse sentiments of workers across different industries, revealing intriguing insights into the happiness levels of employees at the end of their shifts.

According to Deputy’s analysis, Oregon emerges as the state with the happiest hourly workers in the nation. An impressive 75% of respondents from the Beaver State reported feeling “Amazing” at the conclusion of their shifts, showcasing a high level of job satisfaction. Following closely behind, North Carolina secured the second spot in the survey, with 70% of workers expressing similar positive sentiments about their workday.

Virginia clinched the third spot in the rankings, with 66% of employees indicating that they felt amazing after completing their shifts. Meanwhile, Connecticut rounded out the top four states with 60% of frontline workers rating their post-shift sentiment as “Amazing.” However, it is worth noting that Connecticut also displayed a notable disparity in employee emotions, with 20% reporting feeling stressed and another 20% expressing frustration at the end of their workday.

On the flip side, Indiana emerged as the state with the second-highest proportion of unhappy workers, as 34% of respondents reported feeling stressed or frustrated after their shifts. Oklahoma closely followed suit, with 19% of workers experiencing stress and 8% grappling with frustration in the workplace. These findings underscore the significance of addressing factors that contribute to discontentment among employees, such as workload, organizational culture, and job expectations.

As the workforce landscape continues to evolve, employers must prioritize creating a conducive work environment that fosters employee well-being and satisfaction. By recognizing the factors that influence job happiness and taking proactive steps to address them, organizations can cultivate a more engaged and motivated workforce. Ultimately, a satisfied and contented workforce not only leads to higher productivity and retention rates but also contributes to a positive company culture that resonates throughout the organization.