Older male workers are happier at work than anyone else. But which is the happiest industry?

Men over 55 employed by small marketing, communications or advertising businesses are happier at work than anyone else, according to new research.

A survey of 1,024 UK workers, by workplace incentives and rewards provider, One4all Rewards, and published in The 2018 Happiness Survey, surveyed employees from different age groups, genders and industries, asking them to score how happy they are in their current roles out of 10.

Interestingly, workers in one of the oldest age brackets - aged 55 and over - were happier than any other age group, scoring 6.91. Meanwhile, men rated their happiness at work higher than women (6.85 vs. 6.78).

The data revealed that the marketing, communications and advertising industry currently boasts the happiest employees - with staff in this sector rating their happiness as a glowing 8.13 out of 10.

Workers within the smallest of UK companies - micro businesses, employing less than four members of staff - reported being happier than those at companies of any other size.

While the average UK employee rates their morale at work as 6.81 out of 10, just 13 per cent scored fewer than five out 10 and in fact, almost one in four (22 per cent) rated their happiness as eight out of 10 - suggesting, on the whole the British workforce is pretty positive about work.

Unsurprisingly, respondents felt it was the remuneration they receive for the work they do - such as salary and wages - that plays the most important (38 per cent) role in their happiness. But factors such as relationships with colleagues (37 per cent) and the nature of the work they do (34 per cent) followed in second and third place.

Alan Smith, UK Managing Director at One4all Rewards, said: "Those aged 55 and over are happier than any other age group and they are also amongst the most likely to believe that the nature of the work they do plays the most key role in their morale at work, putting more emphasis on this than salary, bonuses, annual leave or anything more tangible.

"It is only those aged 45 and over who prioritise this above salary. Clearly, the UK workforce recognises that money is not everything - but one size definitely doesn't fit all. In order to maintain or significantly improve morale, it is important for employers to take note of what drives the different kinds of individuals in their workforce."

Mark Owen MD of Moose Marketing and PR and editor of www.punchline-gloucester.com  (pictured right) said: "I'm not surprised at this response. Over the years I've worked in a number of different industries and since I've been in marketing and PR and Punchline - I've never been happier. I might have worked my absolute socks off and survived a heart attack but I'm as happy as a happy man can be - happy as Larry, in fact happier."

Top 10 factors that play a key part in workers happiness:

1. Salary or wages - 38%

2. Relationships with colleagues - 37%

3. The nature of the work - 34%

4. Flexible working - 29%

5. Relationships with management - 25%

6. The physical working environment - 21%

7. Annual leave allocation - 20%

8. The workload - 20%

9. Training opportunities - 18%

10. Financial based bonuses - 13%

What do you think? Email mark@moosemarketingandpr.co.uk

Picture caption: Marketing buddies Steven Taylor and Mark Owen