Marvin OnumonuSix million Brits have said they are unhappy in their jobs, with over 10% of UK workers reporting they are fed up at work, a study from Essential Workwear found.
Nearly twice as many women as men earn under £23,000 a year, with 23% of women reporting low pay compared to 12% of men.
The highest paid industry in the study was IT, where over half reported earning more than £55,000, and most said they were satisfied with their work.
Engineering and manufacturing led the trades for high salaries, with nearly a quarter earning over £55,000.
Accountancy, banking and finance followed IT for high pay, with 35% earning above £55,000, and business, consulting and management also scored well at 31%.
In terms of job satisfaction, IT came out on top, with 45% of workers saying they were extremely satisfied in their roles.
Recruitment and HR (38%) and property and construction (36%) were also rated highly for job satisfaction.
On the other end, hospitality and events management had the highest proportion of low earners, with 39% on less than £23,000, followed by media and internet at 33% and leisure, sports and tourism at 32%.
Those working in media and the internet reported low job satisfaction at 17%, but 78% felt they were paid fairly for their work.
In property and construction, 16% earned under £23,000, but 36% said they were satisfied in their job.
Additionally, the study looked at gender pay and found nearly double the number of women than men on less than £23,000.
Just 16% of women earned above £55,000 compared to 27% of men.
Nearly a sixth of men said they were paid fairly, while 32% of women felt the opposite.
The lowest paid regions were Central England and the South West, where 22% of people earned less than £23,000.
The South East had the highest proportion earning over £55,000 (30%), followed by Scotland at 22%.
The South East also led for job satisfaction, with 30% extremely satisfied and 45% somewhat satisfied.
The South West had the highest dissatisfaction at 17%.
In Wales, 37% of workers said they felt underpaid.
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.
“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.”
Georgiou added: “Small steps, like improving daily routines or finding opportunities for upskilling, can also make a big difference in how people feel about their work.”
