Credit: Jobs.lu

In a survey conducted at the end of 2023, jobs.lu aimed to assess the job satisfaction of employees in Luxembourg and better understand their career expectations.

1,150 active employees in Luxembourg responded to questions on ‘professional satisfaction and career expectations in 2024, between 20 November and 8 December 2023. 

While nearly one in three employees declared themselves to be unsatisfied with their role, 41% of respondents stated that their level of satisfaction has improved over the past twelve months.

Work-life balance constituted the primary factor influencing employee satisfaction levels, surpassing salary compensation. Other determining factors included job-related responsibilities, career opportunities and the social dynamics of a workplace.

The question whether Luxembourg workers were satisfied with their jobs and the main factors contributing to this constituted the crux of this latest survey.
A previous announcement from jobs.lu indicated that 46% of employees surveyed expressed a desire to change roles in 2024. Beyond this, the survey sought to delve into employee satisfaction levels with their current roles.

Conducted last December, the jobs.lu survey asked Luxembourg workers to rate their level of satisfaction with their current role on a scale of 1 to 10. 41.76%, or four out of ten respondents declared themselves satisfied with their current professional situation, giving a score of between 8 and 10. At the other end of the spectrum, 29.82% of workers expressed dissatisfaction with their current role, with a score of 5 or less.

The survey aimed to determine whether workers’ job satisfaction tended to improve or deteriorate overall. In this respect, it appeared difficult to identify clear trends among the results. For 31% of respondents, satisfaction levels remained the same. These tended to improve for 41% of respondents and deteriorate for 28%.

“If numerous workers state that they are considering changing jobs, we can see that the overall satisfaction level is maintained. For one-third of respondents, it is improving. This reveals a great disparity in the situations experienced by workers on the ground,” explained Arthur Meulman. “Many employers are making considerable efforts to retain their employees and attract new ones. These players are in fact becoming more attractive and have the capacity to make a difference in the job market. Those who have not grasped the significance of this are at risk of seeing their teams move on to new horizons.”

Team dynamics and relationships with colleagues constitute a key lever of satisfaction for half of workers
The survey conducted by jobs.lu sought to learn more about the main elements contributing to employee satisfaction in their roles. Work-life balance was the factor most frequently mentioned by respondents. This aspect was cited by 60% of respondents, coming ahead of salary compensation (52.04%). Other important factors for employees included:

  • team dynamics and relationships with colleagues (47.59%);
  • autonomy and flexibility at work (45.93%);
  • job-related responsibilities (32.96%);
  • opportunities for development and career advancement (30.56%).

“Previous surveys had already revealed that salary alone is no longer a determining factor for employee satisfaction. While confirming the demand for better work-life balance, these results primarily highlight the importance of the social element of the workplace,” explained Arthur Meulman. “Beyond individual benefits linked to salary or flexibility, it is evident that team dynamics play a crucial role in employee satisfaction. Employees want to develop relationships, build a network and grow with others. While much has been said about remote work, we now realise the importance of the connections forged in the context of the workplace.”