Job Satisfaction Poll Results: Nearly Half of Participants Express Dislike for Current Employment

In a recent survey conducted by the polling institute Appinio on behalf of the job portal Indeed, 1,000 working adults in Germany aged 18 to 67 were interviewed between August 11 and 12, 2025. The survey aimed to shed light on job satisfaction and absenteeism among the workforce.

The survey found that nearly half of employees in Germany (43.8%) often feel dissatisfied with their jobs. This dissatisfaction seems to be a significant factor in employees' decisions to seek new opportunities, as the survey suggests that dissatisfied employees are more likely to consider job changes. In fact, among all respondents, only about half (51%) think about changing jobs at least occasionally.

One concerning finding from the survey is that over half of the dissatisfied employees (58 percent) use calling in sick as a means for a personal break at least occasionally. This trend was observed regardless of job satisfaction, as approximately 40 percent of respondents, regardless of how they felt about their jobs, occasionally call in sick when they're perfectly healthy.

However, the survey did not provide insight into the reasons for job dissatisfaction or for calling in sick when healthy. It also did not specify the industries or professions of the respondents, nor did it distinguish between the reasons for calling in sick among satisfied and dissatisfied employees.

Another survey, conducted by the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), focused on work addiction in Germany. The survey findings did not provide information on the workforce's overall productivity due to sick days taken when healthy.

The survey did not specify the number of respondents or the timeframe of either survey. It also did not provide information on the demographics of the respondents, such as age, gender, or location.

Despite these limitations, the surveys highlight a need for employers to address job dissatisfaction and absenteeism among their workforce. Employees who hate their jobs are more likely to consider changing jobs, with 88% of dissatisfied employees considering it. This trend, coupled with the high number of employees using sick days as a means for a personal break, suggests that employers may need to reevaluate their approaches to employee satisfaction and work-life balance.

Job Satisfaction Poll Results: Nearly Half of Participants Express Dislike for Current Employment