Are you one of the UK’s happiest workers?

Older male workers employed by microbusinesses within marketing, communications or advertising are happier at work than any other age group, new research has found.

A survey of 1,024 UK workers, by workplace incentives and rewards provider, One4all Rewards asked employees from different age groups, genders and industries to score how happy they are in their current roles out of ten.

Employees aged 55 and over were happier than any other age group scoring 6.91, while men rated their happiness at work higher than women at 6.85 vs 6.78.

The research also found that the marketing, communications and advertising industry currently boasts the happiest employees with staff rating it at 8.13 out of ten.

“It is interesting to see how happiness levels vary between the different demographics. For example, those aged 55 and over are happier than any other age group – but interestingly they are also among 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,” said Alan Smith, UK MD at One4all Rewards.

“This is a factor for other age groups, but it’s 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.”

While the average UK employee rates their morale at work as 6.81 out of ten, 13 per cent scored fewer than five out ten with almost one in four (22 per cent) rating their happiness as eight out of ten.