Report: Blue-collar workers feel less satisfied and less respected in their jobs

Only about 43% of blue-collar workers are very happy with their jobs, according to a Pew study, compared to 53% of other workers.

It’s safe to say that worker happiness and well-being is shaky at best. In 2024, just about half of all American employees reported feeling very satisfied with their jobs, and only about a third were happy with their pay or opportunities for promotion. Younger employees seem particularly frustrated by their working conditions: The latest edition of Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace report found that just 34% of workers said they were thriving, with a marked drop from 35% to 31% among those under the age of 35.