The Future of Work

Washington, DC, February 11, 2019 — According to a 7-country online study conducted by Ipsos on behalf of Airbnb, most employed adults who work in an office environment (at least sometimes) are satisfied with their current job (62% rated 4 or 5, extremely satisfied) – though not quite one in four (21%) say that they are extremely satisfied. In comparison, one in ten say that they are not satisfied (10%, rated 1 or 2), and three in ten are neutral when it comes to satisfaction with their current job (28%, rated 3).

• Employees in the U.S. (68%), Germany (67%), and India (64%) are among those most likely to report being satisfied with their current job, while satisfaction is lowest in the U.K. (56%), France (59%), and Australia (59%).
• Managers (76%) are significantly more likely to be satisfied with their current job compared to non-managers (58%).

Eight in ten further say that they are generally optimistic about their year ahead at work. Optimism is especially high in India (91%), while dropping in the U.K. (72%) and France (71%). Managers, in general, are also much more likely to be optimistic about the work year ahead (86% vs. 78% non-managers).

When it comes to satisfaction with different types of work spaces, employees are most likely to be satisfied with working at home/in a home office, with 73% saying that they are satisfied with this work space (vs. only 5% who are unsatisfied). More than six in ten also report being satisfied working in spaces such as those located outside a traditional office location (64%, e.g. the library, coffee shops or other locations that provide WiFi) and office environments (62% vs. 12% who are not satisfied). Employees are least likely to report being content with working in a shared/co-working office space (58% vs. 12% who are not satisfied), though more than half nevertheless report being satisfied with this type of space.

The top five items rated as being most helpful in keeping employees happy in their current job are flexible work schedules (69%), the ability to work remotely (48%), a kitchen stocked with snacks and drinks (43%), travel opportunities (43%), and company-sponsored training programs or courses (38%). Roughly three in ten also mention access to flexible workspaces (31%), opportunities to work on a collaborative team (31%), team building events (29%), and access to external events, trainings and speakers (29%) as helpful in keeping them happy at work, while other responses fall below this threshold.

About the Study

These are the findings from an Ipsos poll conducted November 8 - 26, 2018 on behalf of Airbnb. For the survey, a sample of 3,324 adults ages 21 and over from the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia and India was interview online, in the local language(s) of each country. In order to qualify for the survey, respondents had to be at least 21 years old, be employed full-time/part-time or self-employed, and work in an office environment at least sometimes. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a credibility interval of ±1.9 percentage points for all respondents and ±5.0 percentage points for respondents within each market.

The sample for this study was randomly drawn from Ipsos’s online panel (see link below for more info on “Access Panels and Recruitment”), partner online panel sources, and “river” sampling (see link below for more info on the Ipsos “Ampario Overview” sample method) and does not rely on a population frame in the traditional sense. Ipsos uses fixed sample targets, unique to each study, in drawing sample.
Statistical margins of error are not applicable to online nonprobability sampling polls. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error and measurement error. Where figures do not sum to 100, this is due to the effects of rounding. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a credibility interval of ±1.9 percentage points for all respondents and ±5.0 percentage points for respondents within each market (see link below for more info on Ipsos online polling “Credibility Intervals”). Ipsos calculates a design effect (DEFF) for each study based on the variation of the weights, following the formula of Kish (1965). This study had a credibility interval adjusted for design effect of the following (n=3,324, DEFF=1.5, adjusted Confidence Interval=3.4).

For more information about conducting research intended for public release or Ipsos’ online polling methodology, please visit our Public Opinion Polling and Communication page where you can download our brochure, see our public release protocol, or contact us.