Brummie workers are the happiest in the UK

It might not feel that way on a cold February morning, but Brummies are actually the most content workers in the UK.

New research shows fewer people in Birmingham hate their jobs than workers in any other UK city.

Only 7.8 per cent of Brummies are dissatisfied at work – almost half the national average – while close to three-quarters are satisfied – more than anywhere other than Norwich and Liverpool.

The research comes from business psychologists at OPP who conducted a study of more than 2,500 employees.

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It found satisfaction was on the rise across the UK, but Brummie workers were almost uniquely cheerful.

This is despite workers in finance and manufacturing – two traditional Birmingham strengths – being among least satisfied.

This is closely followed by retail, catering and leisure staff.

Architects and engineers are apparently the most happy with 79 of workers in these sectors satisfied in their roles

John Hackston, head of research at OPP, said: “Although it is great to see employee happiness on the rise, our research shows that job satisfaction doesn’t fully translate into feeling successful at work.

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“Employees highlight that improving communication within organisations is particularly important. Effective communication will not only improve performance and decision-making but also enables employees to better understand the organisation’s strategy. By addressing the factors that affect workplace satisfaction, businesses can help their employees achieve their full potential.”

The top three factors influencing job satisfaction were:

1) Workload (26 per cent)
2) Salary increases (25 per cent)
3) Changes in management (22 per cent).