Slightly more than half of U.S. employees claim to be satisfied with their jobs, a statistic to consider as Labor Day 2018 approaches.

Specifically, 51 percent of U.S. employees said they are experiencing job satisfaction, The Conference Board found with its latest survey.

While the number is barely a majority of employees, it represents another increase compared to the previous year. The survey found that overall job satisfaction increased for the seventh year in a row. Still, employees aren’t too happy with their professional development or recognition for a job well done. According to the survey, employees were most disappointed with their workload, educational/job training programs, performance review process, bonus plans and policies for promotion.

Rebecca Ray, an author of the report and an executive vice president of The Conference Board, said that employers should pay particular attention to the employee satisfaction results.

“To attract and retain the most productive employees in today’s labor market, companies must make a bigger commitment to addressing the factors within their control,” Ray said in prepared remarks. “Among other steps, that entails addressing the job components with which employees are least satisfied, including job training, the performance review process and promotion policy. As workers continue to voluntarily leave their jobs at a record rate, the need to prioritize components relating to their professional development could not come at a more pressing time.”

Other survey findings:

• Job satisfaction is improving more quickly in lower-income households.
• Survey respondents satisfied with their jobs liked the people they worked with the most. After that, they were most satisfied with the commute, the work itself, their supervisor and then the workplace environment.
• Employees are most satisfied with their jobs in Minnesota.

The survey tapped perspectives of 1,500 employees, and participants weighed in on 23 components that contribute to job satisfaction. The Conference Board is a nonprofit business membership and research organization focused on helping businesses function better.

Source: The Conference Board