55% of Americans Don’t Like “Workin’ for the Man”
Happy with your day job? If so, you’re in the minority.
55% of Americans are not happy with their work and wish they could be doing something else, according to the latest study by The Conference Board, reflecting the highest dissatisfaction level in the 22-year history of the study. In just one year (from 2008 to 2009) satisfaction with jobs decreased 10% from the previous year.
People with jobs, who we refer to as “cube farmers,” under 25 expressed the highest level of dissatisfaction. Roughly 64% of them say they were unhappy in their jobs. The recession has hit their wage levels and has made their work seem like drudgery.
We at StartupNation, including myself and my brother as founders, and also including the many tens of thousands of our community members who made the leap last year to run their own businesses are already experiencing the much-improved, much more fulfilling and exhilerating lifestyle of being entrepreneurs.
So, to those stuck workin’ for the man and not too happy about it… we say, START IT UP!
Here’s a good place to start: 10 Steps to Open for Business
January 7th, 2010 at 11:22 am
Great article! This really rings true… and I believe that anyone can relate to this article, I’m sure people will be relieved to know that they aren’t the only ones that dread their job. I think that there is a huge difference in the attitudes of people who work just to work and make money vs people who work, doing something that they actually enjoy doing. The world would be a much happier place if it was filled with those people. Cheers!
January 7th, 2010 at 11:53 am
Not a surprising statistic, but it’s also not surprising that hardly any of the 55% of people unhappy with working for “the man” have the drive, motivation, perseverance, or b@lls to actually start their own business. They may think they’d like the freedom, but running your own business is a heck of a lot more work than just bearing down and working for “the man”.
January 7th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
it’s more work and more risk, John. I agree. HOWEVER, it sure is a lot more gratifying to work hard at your own gig rather than being worked hard by someone else.
January 7th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
Rich wrote, “. . . wish they could be doing something else. . . ,” which doesn’t mean that they desire to be self-employed or a business owner. Dissatisfaction could mean just changing jobs and we need all types of people working independently or within large publicly owned companies.
When I questioned the career choice of my genius sister, my mom quickly reminded me that her priorities are to not be in charge, but to have zero stress, no responsibility, and enjoy her time away from her job and added, that we need people like her. There is a great deal of logic to my sister’s decision and I can report that several years later, her choice has shown me that she knew what she was doing.
There’s a glut of healthy competition to be found but the opportunities are endless for anyone wanting to start their own business. One of those cube farmers could end up being someone’s new client. I could happen.
January 7th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
I probably should clarify that her choice, my sister’s, was right for her.
I never judge anyone and their career choice(s) because we don’t know what drives or motivates anyone. Motivation could be what my sister’s priorities are, hence no desire to take on the responsibilities of business ownership. But believe me, she doesn’t hesitate to outsource when needed.
January 9th, 2010 at 12:24 am
If you are sure about what you want in the beginning from yourself and your job then I guess you will be more satisfied. Startingup also requires a lot of experience I guess, not that easy
January 14th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
What is wrong with Corporate America that choses to ignore all these facts?
I work for a Fortune 10 company and have worked for this company for the past 15 years and I just about had it. The MBA genuises running the company either don’t get it or chose the ignore this. I think as long as the CEO and his/her minnions of the executive council and members of the board are making out like bandidos and paying themselves $millions in bonuses the little man does not matter anymore. We have not seen raises in 5 years, last year our compensation when down between 15-20% (This includes salary cuts, bonuses, benefits, 401K matches, stock purchase progrmas, etc) all while all the members of the board and the CEO are raking in the millions.
It is all about greed which is what got us into the mess we are in. More millionaries have been made during the last two years than previously, all while people are losing their homes, livelyhoods and lowering their standard of living.
I am not quite ready to take the plunge and wish I was, but as soon as the economy starts recovering the exodus will begin.
August 28th, 2012 at 12:33 pm
I am a 24 year-old who is unhappy with her job, definitely. You take what you can get at this age and relegate yourself to the “cube farm” until you don’t have to anymore. I created this sarcastic blog to help cope: http://www.corporateincolorado.com/