Construction Trades Lead the Way in Job Satisfaction, New Study Finds
Posted by: electime 26th November 2025
Survey reveals UK trade industry salary vs. job satisfaction
Key Findings
- Property & Construction workers report the highest job satisfaction among trades, with 36 per cent extremely satisfied, despite 16 per cent earning less than £23K a year.
- An estimated 6 million UK workers report dissatisfaction with their current job.
- Nearly a quarter of those working in Engineering & Manufacturing earn over £55K.
- Trades with lowest satisfaction, such as Transport & Logistics, are also those where workers feel underpaid.
- Energy & Utilities (69 per cent) and Property & Construction (67 per cent) reported as the most fairly paid trade industries.
A new job satisfaction index from custom workwear specialists, Essential Workwear reveals that the construction industry ranks highest for job satisfaction among UK trades, despite comparatively lower salaries in some roles.
Although, looking at all industry sectors, the nationwide study which collected responses from over 2,000 UK respondents estimated that around 6 million Brits are unhappy in their current positions, with 30 per cent feeling they are paid unfairly.
Trades: Pay vs Satisfaction
Amongst trade industries, the lowest paid seems to be property and construction with 16 per cent of respondents revealing they are paid less than £23K a year. Although this was overall one of the lowest paid trade industries in the study, they actually had the highest job satisfaction rating, with 36 per cent of workers agreeing that they are extremely satisfied with their job.
On the other hand, the study found that the highest paid trade industry was Engineering and Manufacturing with nearly a quarter of those working in the trade taking home over £55K a year! Job satisfaction was extremely high for this trade too, with 1 in 3 workers in the industry agreeing that they are satisfied with their job. Maybe job satisfaction and a generous salary go hand in hand, with a further 63 per cent of those surveyed agreeing that they are paid fairly.
Those earning over £40K a year told a different story, however. Energy and Utility jobs such as Electricians, Project Managers and Plumbers, topped the list, with over half (51 per cent) of those in the industry revealing their salary. This was followed by Engineering and Manufacturing (48 per cent), then Environment and Agriculture (47 per cent).
Being paid fairly and job satisfaction seem to be connected throughout the study, with those working in Transport and Logistics reporting the lowest levels of job satisfaction, whilst also agreeing that they feel they are unfairly paid for the job they do.
The top two industries that had workers that felt they were the most fairly paid included Energy and Utilities with nearly three quarters (69 per cent), and two thirds of Property and Construction workers (67 per cent).
Overall Industry Statistics
When looking at all industries, the survey found that nearly three quarters (72 per cent) of respondents say they were happy in their roles, but over 30 per cent believe they are paid unfairly. Around 17 per cent earn less than £23K a year, which is below the national living wage for a 39-hour week. While 21 per cent earn more than £55K annually, showing a striking divide between low and highly paid workers.
The study found that the highest paid industry in the study was IT with over half (53 per cent) of workers revealing a hefty salary of over £55K. This is followed by Accountancy, Banking and Finance (35 per cent) and Business, Consulting and Management (31 per cent).
And Regionally…
Regionally, Central England and South West England seem to be paid the least with nearly a quarter (22 per cent) being paid less than £23K.
One of the lowest paid regions in the UK appears to be the South West, and also the most dissatisfied (17 per cent) compared to other regions.
The South East wasn’t only the highest paid region but also landed the highest percentage for job satisfaction. A third of respondents admitted that they are extremely satisfied with the job and 45 per cent agreed they are ‘somewhat’ satisfied.
Speaking on the results of the survey, Louis Georgiou, Operations Director at Essential Workwear. “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 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. Small steps, like improving daily routines or finding opportunities for upskilling, can also make a big difference in how people feel about their work.”
For further findings from the study including a detailed breakdown of pay, satisfaction, and fairness across all trades, visit the Essential Workwear Blog: https://essentialworkwear.com/property-construction-workers-crowned-most-satisfied-in-uk-trades/
