Employee happiness is central to almost any metric of workplace success. Happy team members are more engaged in their work and more productive. They’re less likely to look for a new job, saving on recruitment costs. They’re more motivated to go above and beyond the responsibilities of their role, which drives better outcomes for the organisation.

SEEK’s Workplace Happiness Index 2024 Report reveals what makes Australian workers happy, which can be used as a guide for employers to build a happier, more productive workplace.

While you may expect salary to be a main driver of workplace happiness, the SEEK report shows that isn’t the case. Instead, the most impactful aspects on workplace happiness are purpose at work, the managers who are in control of daily work and the daily responsibilities that relate to the individual’s contributions to that work.

In terms of what Aussie employers are currently happiest with, their location of work (65%), day-to-day responsibilities (61%), work-life balance (61%) and sense of purpose (58%), came out on top.

Workers are least happy with their salary (42%), stress levels, (41%) and career progression opportunities (37%).

One particularly striking insight from the SEEK report is that South Australians are the happiest workers in the country, with 67% of respondents in SA reporting general happiness at work, 10% or more ahead of other states.

Nationally, 55% of Australian’s are currently happy in their jobs, with 9% ‘extremely happy’ and 46% ‘somewhat happy’. This means almost half of this country’s workforce are at best feeling neutral in their jobs or at worst feeling extremely unhappy, so there is a lot of room for improvement, even here in SA.

So, what can employers do to ensure they are keeping their employees happy?

Build a sense of purpose and meaning

Employers can build a sense of purpose by communicating a clear and compelling company mission and vision, allowing employees to see how their individual work impacts the broader organisation and creating opportunities for employees to get involved in charitable or community initiatives that resonate with their values.

Foster a positive and inclusive company culture

To build a positive culture, employers should create an inclusive, diverse workplace where employees feel safe and respected, regularly recognise employee achievements, and foster open communication and transparency, ensuring employees feel heard and involved in company decisions.

Provide career development and growth opportunities

Employers should provide access to ongoing training, education, and mentorship, clear career progression paths and regular performance reviews and opportunities for employees to take on new responsibilities, participate in leadership programs, or contribute to cross-departmental projects.

Promote work-life balance

Employers should consider offering flexible working hours or compressed workweeks, remote work options or hybrid models and support for family needs, such as parental leave and childcare assistance.

Offer competitive compensation and benefits

Employers can improve happiness by offering competitive salaries that are on par with industry standards, providing benefits such as health insurance, wellness programs, and retirement savings plans and offering performance-based bonuses or profit-sharing models that reward employees for their contributions.

Encourage Regular Feedback and Engagement

Employers should conduct regular employee satisfaction surveys and implement changes based on feedback, create open channels for communication, such as town hall meetings or one-on-one check-ins and actively listen to employee concerns and suggestions, and take action where appropriate.

The data is clear: employee happiness is a key driver of business success. From work-life balance and career development to company culture and fair compensation, employers have the tools to create a happier, more engaged workforce.

South Australian employers can build on our state’s strong employee satisfaction scores by continuing to invest in their people. By fostering an environment where employees feel valued, supported, and engaged, businesses can attract top talent and maintain high levels of employee satisfaction to ensure long-term success.

You can access the complete SEEK Workplace Happiness Index Report here.