A surprising disconnect has emerged between Americans’ gloomy economic outlook and how they feel about their actual jobs. Despite widespread anxiety about household finances and employment security, shift workers across the United States report improving satisfaction with their work, according to a survey released Tuesday.
The annual survey from Deputy, a global firm providing scheduling and human resources services to small businesses, found that 78.9% of shift workers reported feeling positive at the end of their shifts, up nearly half a percentage point from the prior year. More striking was the decline in unhappiness: just 5.9% of respondents felt negative about their jobs, down from 6.6% and marking the lowest reading since the survey began four years ago.
The findings stand in sharp contrast to multiple surveys from institutions including the University of Michigan, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Conference Board, all showing elevated anxiety about household finances and job security among American consumers.
Generational Shift Reshaping the Workforce
Deputy CEO Silvija Martincevic attributed the positive trend partly to demographic changes, with Gen Z workers—those born between 1997 and 2012—now comprising the largest segment of the shift-based workforce. “This shift matters because workers at different stages of life report very different experiences at work, making this generational transition an important part of the story behind this year’s results,” Martincevic said.
Generation Alpha posted the highest satisfaction rate at 88.88%, followed by Gen Z at 78.42%.
Industry and Geographic Patterns
The hospitality sector led all industries with an 82.98% positive rating, narrowly edging out retail at 82.62%. Healthcare workers, despite their industry leading the nation in job creation, registered the lowest positive rating at 72.89% for the second consecutive year.
Among specific subsectors, casino workers reported the highest satisfaction, with gambling operations receiving a perfect 100% positive rating. Firearms stores came in second at 89.53%, followed closely by cafes and coffee shops at 89.50%. The cafe and coffee shop category also recorded the highest share of “amazing” responses at 72.64%.
At the lower end, tobacco, e-cigarette and marijuana stores generated the most negative responses at 13.34%, followed by animal health at 13.07% and care facilities at 11.55%.
Geographically, Rhode Island workers reported universal job satisfaction—a perfect score the survey attributed to tight labor markets and thriving hospitality and tourism sectors. Alaska ranked second at 95.35%, with Hawaii third at 92.89%. Arkansas posted the highest negative ratings at 12.68%, followed by New Hampshire at 12.31% and the District of Columbia at 11.11%.
Growing Middle Ground
The survey authors noted one potentially troubling trend: the expanding number of workers who feel merely “okay” about their jobs. That category grew to 15.2% and represented the fastest-growing segment.
“Workplace morale stays high when businesses focus on reliable scheduling, equitable pay, and meaningful appreciation,” the survey concluded. Neglecting these fundamentals, it warned, often results in workers becoming disengaged or leaving their positions entirely.
Source: www.cnbc.com — https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/30/surprising-survey-of-american-job-satisfaction-.html
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