Job Satisfaction Across European Cities: Insights from the Quality of Life Report

The European Commission's latest edition of the Report on the Quality of Life in European Cities sheds light on the job satisfaction levels across various cities in Europe. Rostock, a city in Germany, emerges as the leader in job satisfaction, with an impressive 85 percent of respondents expressing contentment with their work situation. Following closely behind are Luxembourg City and Reykjavik, both boasting an 84 percent job satisfaction rate.

Rank	City	Country	Percentage
1	Rostock	Germany	85%
2	Luxembourg	Luxembourg	84%
3	Reykjavik	Iceland	84%
4	Geneva	Switzerland	83%
5	Dortmund	Germany	83%
6	Berlin	Germany	83%
7	Zurich	Switzerland	82%
8	Aalborg	Denmark	82%
9	Malmo	Sweden	82%
10	Hamburg	Germany	81%

Berlin, the capital city of Germany, secures the sixth position on the list, with an impressive 83 percent job satisfaction rate. Other cities making it to the top ten include Geneva in Switzerland, Dortmund in Germany, Zurich in Switzerland, Aalborg in Denmark, Malmo in Sweden, and Hamburg in Germany, with job satisfaction rates ranging from 81 to 83 percent.

The report underscores the influence of urbanization on job satisfaction levels, with capital cities and larger urban areas generally offering more employment opportunities and better-paying conditions. Despite this trend, the overall satisfaction levels in urban areas versus rural regions across Europe remain relatively consistent, with approximately 74 percent of respondents expressing satisfaction with their jobs.

While cities in Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Austria, Czechia, and Slovakia generally exhibit higher job satisfaction levels, cities in Greece, Italy, Hungary, and Spain tend to score lower. Interestingly, the report notes that capital cities do not consistently outperform non-capital cities in terms of job satisfaction, with differences within a country often being minimal.

The survey, which polled employed residents across European cities, reveals marginal changes in job satisfaction levels from 2019 to 2023, with only a one-percentage point difference on average. Some cities, such as Nicosia in Cyprus and Bologna in Italy, experienced significant improvements in job satisfaction, while others, like Valletta in Malta and Košice in Slovakia, witnessed declines.

Among the countries with the lowest job satisfaction scores are Heraklion in Greece, which recorded the lowest score at 54 percent, followed by Athens in Greece, Skopje in North Macedonia, Belgrade in Serbia, and Podgorica in Montenegro.

Despite fluctuations in individual city scores, the overall rankings remained relatively stable, with a high correlation between job satisfaction levels in 2019 and 2023. These findings underscore the importance of understanding and addressing the factors that contribute to job satisfaction across European cities, ultimately aiming to enhance the quality of life and well-being of residents.

By fLEXI tEAM