A new study has revealed extensive dissatisfaction across the UK workforce, with an estimated six million workers unhappy in their jobs and many feeling unfairly paid. The findings highlight significant disparities between industries, genders and regions.
The research, conducted by Essential Workwear through a survey of more than 2,000 respondents, assessed pay levels, job satisfaction and perceptions of fairness. While nearly three quarters of workers reported being generally happy in their roles, more than 30% felt they were not paid fairly. Around 17% earned less than £23,000 per year, which is below the national living wage for a full-time 39-hour week. More than 20%, by contrast, earned over £55,000 annually, demonstrating a pronounced divide.
Data from the Office for National Statistics shows a gender pay gap of 13.1% for all employees in 2024, narrowing to 6.9% for full-time workers. The CIPD Good Work Index similarly reports uneven job satisfaction across income brackets, with lower earners experiencing greater stress.
High-paying industries and satisfaction levels
The study found that IT is the highest-paid sector, with 53% of workers earning more than £55,000. This is followed by:
- Accountancy, Banking and Finance at 35%
- Business, Consulting and Management at 31%
IT workers also reported the strongest job satisfaction, with 45% saying they were extremely satisfied.
Other sectors with high satisfaction included:
- Recruitment and HR at 38%
- Property and Construction at 36%
In Engineering and Manufacturing, nearly a quarter of respondents earned over £55,000. Property and Construction showed high satisfaction despite lower pay levels, with 16% earning under £23,000.
The 2025 New Possible survey reinforces these patterns, recording 75% overall job satisfaction in engineering and manufacturing, the highest across sectors, and 73% in charities. These findings suggest that while salary influences morale, factors such as purpose and recognition remain essential.
Lowest-paying sectors
The lowest-paid industries were:
- Hospitality and Events Management at 39%
- Media and Internet at 33%
- Leisure, Sports and Tourism at 32%
These percentages represent respondents earning under £23,000. On a full-time 39-hour schedule, such pay falls below the national living wage.
Although workers in the Media and Internet industry were among the most dissatisfied, at 17%, 78% still believed they were paid fairly. Energy and Utilities employees recorded the strongest perception of fair pay at 69%.
Gender comparisons
The study also exposed marked gender differences. Nearly twice as many women, 23%, compared with men at 12%, earned under £23,000. Almost a third of men, 27%, earned more than £55,000, compared with 16% of women.
A sixth of men felt they were paid fairly. By contrast, 32% of women believed they were not paid fairly.
These results reflect national trends. PwC’s 2025 Gender Pay Gap Report recorded a mean hourly pay gap of 11.2% and a median of 8.6%. Women in low-paid sectors such as hospitality experience compounded financial pressures, contributing to higher dissatisfaction.
Regional disparities
The research found considerable variation across the UK.
Lowest-paid regions:
Central England and the South West, both at 22% earning under £23,000
Highest-paid regions:
- South East at 30% earning over £55,000
- Scotland at 22% earning over £55,000
Job satisfaction:
- South East: 30% extremely satisfied and 45% somewhat satisfied
- South West: highest dissatisfaction at 17%
Perceived unfair pay:
Wales: 37% feeling underpaid
Employees in the South East and Scotland reported the strongest overall satisfaction, often citing feeling valued and fairly compensated. In lower-paid areas, industries such as Property and Construction still showed strong engagement.
These findings are consistent with ONS data showing higher gender pay gaps across English regions compared with Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in April 2025.
Industry reaction
Louis Georgiou, Operations Director at Essential Workwear, said, “Our job satisfaction index shows just how divided the UK workforce is today. Millions of Brits feel undervalued, and our research highlights that fair pay, recognition, and a positive work environment are just as important as salary in determining job satisfaction.”
He added, “Workers can boost their own job satisfaction by seeking roles that match their skills and values, speaking openly with managers about career development, and prioritising industries or roles where employees report high engagement. Small steps, like improving daily routines or finding opportunities for upskilling, can also make a big difference in how people feel about their work.”
Further details, including a full breakdown of pay, satisfaction and fairness across sectors, are available on the Essential Workwear blog.
As the UK continues to face economic pressures, the survey’s authors say employers must prioritise fairness to support satisfaction and retention.
