NEW YORK, NY – A new nationwide happiness index reveals Alaska as the state with the most satisfied employees, based on key performance metrics such as wages, quit rates, and commute times. The index, conducted by HR technology experts at SelectSoftware Reviews, also identified Georgia as the state with the least satisfied workforce.
That report says New Jerseyans are the 9th most unhappy workers in America. The report cited long commutes, low job satisfaction and general quality of life in the state as reasons for its high ranking.
The study evaluated each state based on seven criteria: annual wages, quit rates, injuries, commute times, paid time off (PTO) laws, average weekly working hours, and overall state happiness. Scores were calculated out of 100 for comparative analysis.
Alaska leads the ranking with a job satisfaction score of 69.96, attributed to shorter workweeks averaging 31.3 hours, and an annual average wage of $52,000. Massachusetts, though not in the top five for overall happiness, reported the highest average wage at $58,450, just 7.5% higher than Alaska.
Rhode Island followed Alaska with a total score of 56.64. Contributing factors include a low injury rate, moderate quit rates at 2.4%, and positive PTO laws. North Dakota comes in third with a score of 56.40, boosted by an annual average wage of $47,400 and an average commute time of just 17.6 minutes.
New York was noted for having the longest average commute time at 33.5 minutes, a factor known to negatively impact employee morale.
Other states performing well in employee satisfaction include Colorado with a score of 55.76 and Minnesota at 55.26. Rounding out the top ten are Nebraska, Maine, Ohio, Arizona, and Indiana with scores ranging from 54.91 to 48.84.
Georgia trails at the bottom of the list for job satisfaction. Also joining it with low scores are Florida and Texas, indicating less content workforces in those states.
The research aims to provide insights into the state of employee happiness across the United States, offering valuable data for both employers and policymakers.