More than 80% of U.S. employees are satisfied overall with their jobs, but fewer than half of them are happy with opportunities for career development and advancement, according to the 2011 Job Satisfaction and Engagement Research Report released by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
The SHRM survey reports that showed that 83% of employees reported overall satisfaction with their current jobs. Although declining slightly since 2009, the percent of satisfied employees hasn't changed significantly in the last 10 years. However, when it comes to career development and job promotions only about 50% were satisfied with the opportunities at their organization.
As far as employee engagment, about 70% of employees reported being moderately engaged in their work, determined to accomplish work goals and completely focused on work projects. They also reported putting extra effort into their work. At the same time, however, only 52% of employees felt completely plugged in at work or enjoyed volunteering for activities beyond what the job requires 53%).
If you're one of those employees who is only moderately engaged with work, it might be time to start quietly exploring other options. There are ways to do that carefully, so you don't lose your current job. Conducting a passive job search is a way to find out what's out there and to determine how competitive you are when it comes to other jobs.
Read More: SHRM Job Satisfaction Survey
Related: How to Get a Promotion | Passive Job Search Tips
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