There are a wide range of issues that may influence job satisfaction. On a general level, people who are in good health and people with a higher level of educational attainment are more likely to be satisfied with their job. More specifically, for some people the main determinant of job satisfaction is remuneration (in other words, their salary), while others place greater importance on their working environment, for example: job security (a permanent work contract and/or few concerns about being made unemployed); job fit (ensuring they are matched to their job in terms of qualifications, abilities, interests and personality); job flexibility (the ability to choose their working hours and/or a broad range of different tasks at work).

The lowest level of job satisfaction was recorded in the German region of Leipzig, where just over one in five of the workforce declared themselves to be highly satisfied with their job

Based on a four-point scale from ‘not at all satisfied’ to ‘highly satisfied’, the share of EU-28 workforce that was highly satisfied with their job stood at 42.8 % in 2017. This proportion peaked, among the EU Member States, at 75.0 % in Malta, followed by Sweden (69.5 %) and Denmark (64.8 %). The high shares in Sweden and Denmark may reflect, at least in part, their flexible labour markets that encourage job mobility/flexibility coupled with highly developed social welfare systems (which, among others, protect pension and holiday entitlements if moving between jobs).

The Baltic countries, Ireland, Austria, Italy and Slovenia were the only other EU Member States to report that more than half of their working populations were highly satisfied with their jobs in 2017. By contrast, Romania (28.3 %) and Bulgaria (27.6 %) had the lowest shares in the EU; note, however that Turkey recorded a much lower share, as less than one in five (17.1 %) members of the workforce were highly satisfied with their job.

In 2017, an analysis by NUTS level 2 region reveals that, aside from Malta (a single region at this level of detail; 75.0 %), the highest levels of job satisfaction — at least 60.0 % (as shown by the darkest shade in Map 4) were concentrated in Denmark and Sweden (all regions). The highest levels of job satisfaction were recorded in the Swedish region of Norra Mellansverige and the Italian Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano/Bozen (both 71.4 %).

In many northern and western EU Member States, capital city regions recorded some of the lowest levels of job satisfaction in 2017 — for example, the share of the workforce that was highly satisfied with their job in Hovedstaden, Wien and Stockholm was lower than in any other region of Denmark, Austria and Sweden. By contrast, the opposite pattern was observed in several eastern Member States. For example, the highest levels of job satisfaction in Bulgaria and Poland were registered in their capital city regions of Yugozapaden and Warszawski stołeczny.

At the other end of the scale, the lowest levels of job satisfaction in 2017 — where fewer than 30 % of the workforce were highly satisfied by their job (as shown by the lightest shade in Map 4) — were principally located in Bulgaria (except the capital city region), Romania (except Nord-Vest and Sud-Muntenia) and (eastern) Germany, including Leipzig which had the lowest level of job satisfaction in the EU, at 20.9 %.

The 10 most in-demand Jobs in Europe for the next decade

The world is in constant change.  The fluctuations in the job market are always related to societal development, trends and needs. Thus, there is a quantity of factors that impact employment:

• Higher-education trends. During the last 2 decades, there was a common misconception that people could only find job and be valuable to society if they had an academic degree. But actually, nowadays, it happens exactly the opposite: a large number of jobs are overloaded due to the quantity of graduates applying. By June 2017, Eurostat employment statistics pointed to an unemployment percentage of 19,2%  for recent graduates between 20 and 34 years old. Consequently, some of the most demanded jobs for the next decade are related to labor that don’t demand tertiary education.

• Population distribution. According to Eurostat population aging statistics, 19,2%  of the European population are aged 65 or over and its increasing. Also the life expectancy in old age continues to increase. According to a study published in the Lancet, life expectancy will exceed 85 in many countries around the globe by 2030.  An aging population means new jobs, especially related to healthcare industry.

• Technology development. On one hand technology is killing existing jobs. For instance, the development in robotics and automation has been related to the loss of manufacturing jobs. On the other hand technology has created more jobs than it has destroyed. A study developed by Deloitte Economists, corroborates the fact that technology has created new jobs both directly and indirectly. The increasing demand of IT Jobs is an example of a direct effect. Indirect effects can be, for instance, the fact that technological progress has allowed consumers to meet existing needs at lower cost and spend their money instead on more recreational goods and services. This fact has positively impacted the number of bar staff and hairdressers, amongst other jobs.

• Government Laws and companies’ investment trends. If the government of a country, region and/or union invests more in a particular industrial sector, it is likely that more jobs will arise in that sector. If we want to guess which might be the most demanded jobs in the next decade, we should have a look at European Industrial Research and Innovation. According to the 2017 EU Industrial R&D investment scoreboard, the sectors which drove more R&D growth were: ICT producers, ICT services, Health industries and automobiles.
• Based on what has been said and on data analysis of Talent Search People Job offers as well as other European Job search websites, we present you the 10 most in-demand jobs for the next decade: 

1. Software Engineers and developers

With the rise of small device technology there is an increasing need for software developers. They can work in a wide range of technology issues and with both individual and corporate clients. 

2. Data Scientists

Data science is the sexiest job of the next decades especially because of the growth of artificial intelligence and machine learning, two of the biggest trends in this area. Data scientists use their advanced knowledge in statistics, math and computer science to collect analyses and interpret large data sets. They can add value to any business in many ways.

3. Mechanical Engineers

Mechanical Engineers can work in many industries and projects. They are imperative for automobile industry which will face continuing growth and challenges.  

4. Nurse Practitioners

In recent years Nurses are being recognized as key members of healthcare due to population ageing, but also due to the increasing need for advanced and specialized practitioners within the field.

5. Financial advisors

A financial adviser suggests and renders financial services to clients based on their financial situation. They can provide a range of financial advice from budgeting to estate planning. There is a big portion of jobs to fill in this area especially because the existing advisors are on the path toward retirement and also because baby boomers are almost retiring and they might need help in the process!

6. Medical doctors

Doctors and other jobs related such as surgeons and assistants will always be in-demand. But during the next years this demand can actually increase due to the development of technology especially in the biomedical field.

7. Occupational Therapists

Occupational therapists will have an increasing need in society, possibly due to the increasingly life expectancy in western countries. They are responsible for assessing and intervening with the purpose of developing, recovering or maintaining meaningful activities of individuals or communities.

8. Home health Aides

A home health aide cares for people with disabilities, chronic diseases, cognitive impairments or age-related problems. They can perform basic aid services. Fast employment growth is expected through 2024 possibly, once more, due to the increase of life expectancy and aging.

9. Physiotherapists

The role of a physiotherapist has changed in the last years. They are no longer seen as muscular-skeletal specialists but they can contribute to clinical health in general.

10. Tradesperson jobs

Manual jobs such as welder, plumber and electrician are rising. They are needed in a lot of different industries and they can also work as freelancers. Also, as has already been mentioned, this increase can be due to the lack of young people with vocational degrees instead of university ones.