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Low salary was the biggest concern cited by a majority of the respondents.
Despite a modest increase in happiness two years in a row, Hong Kong employees remained highly stressed, according to the latest survey by Ctgoodjobs.
Having collected responses from 2,144 participants across 23 sectors, the survey revealed that the average work happiness index of Hong Kong employees rose from 4.97 points the previous year to the current 5.30 points out of 10. However, the average work stress index was still as high as 6.86 points, dropping only 0.02 points from last year.
Segmented by age, surveyed employees aged 31 to 40 were unhappiest in Hong Kong, with the lowest happiness score at 5.16 points, 0.37 points lower than those aged over 50.
The survey also found that the higher the educational level of the respondent, the higher the happiness index, such as those with a master's degree (5.56 points) and a doctorate degree (6.41 points). Meanwhile, respondents with tertiary education and diplomas were the least happy, with only 5.14 points.
When asked about the reasons for unhappiness, 27.1% of respondents cited financial pressure, followed by personal development (26%). Company morale/atmosphere (21.8%), and the attitude of the supervisor/boss (21.6%), were also substantial factors impacting employees' happiness at work.
The mode of working also influenced happiness levels. The survey showed that freelancers or slashers reported the highest happiness score of 5.58 points, while full-time, part-time, and contract employees averaged 5.35 points, 5.5 points, and 5.2 points respectively.
Unemployed respondents recorded the lowest average happiness score of 4.51 points, along with a high average work stress index of 7.02 points, relatively more stressful than full-time (6.91 points) and contract (6.77 points) employees. The average stress index of part-time employees (6.26 points) and freelancers/slashers (6.59 points) was the lowest.
“Salary is too low” led the list of stressors, with 41.8% of surveyed identifying it as their primary concern. Other stress contributors included insufficient income (29.8%) and difficulty finding employment (27%). At the same time, lack of self-recognition also contributed to respondents’ stress, with 19.7% saying they had no sense of accomplishment at work, 16.4% felt limited capabilities, and 8.9% had low self-esteem.
The three most stressful industries are:
- Laboratory tests (7.69 points)
- Telecommunications (7.55 points)
- Banking/insurance/securities/finance (7.41 points)
The three least stressful industries are:
- Catering (6.18 points)
- Entertainment/leisure (6.19 points)
- Design (6.41 points)
In the face of heavy pressure, nearly half of the respondents said that they have experienced stress symptoms in the past three months, such as getting tired easily (48.9%), insomnia (37.9%), headache (33%), and wanting to escape from social events to be alone (33%).
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