Updated
Updated · CNBC · Jun 30
Deputy Survey Shows Shift Worker Positivity at 78.9% as Unhappiness Falls to Record-Low 5.9%
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Jun 30

Deputy Survey Shows Shift Worker Positivity at 78.9% as Unhappiness Falls to Record-Low 5.9%

1 articles · Updated · CNBC · Jun 30

Summary

  • 78.9% of shift workers said they felt positive at the end of their shifts, up nearly 0.5 point from a year earlier, while unhappy responses fell to 5.9% from 6.6%—the lowest in Deputy’s four-year survey.
  • Gen Z’s growing share of the shift workforce helped drive the improvement, Deputy said, even as broader U.S. sentiment surveys still show anxiety about household finances and job security.
  • Hospitality led major sectors with an 82.98% positive rating, just ahead of retail at 82.62%, while healthcare ranked last among the four main categories at 72.89% for a second straight year.
  • Rhode Island topped state rankings with a 100% positive score and Alaska followed at 95.35%, while Arkansas posted the highest negative share at 12.68%; casino workers in Rhode Island also scored a perfect 100%.
  • 15.2% of respondents chose “okay,” the fastest-growing category, suggesting morale remains solid but more workers are drifting toward neutrality when scheduling, pay and recognition fall short.

Insights

Is the rise of 'okay' workers a sign of contentment or a warning of growing employee apathy?
Why does healthcare fail its workers while sectors like hospitality and retail see morale soar?
As Gen Z rejects old norms, will flexible scheduling soon become more valuable than a higher salary?