from the April 17, 2007 edition
In US, workers who help others report most happiness
Clergy, firefighters, and teachers top the lists of happiest and most satisfied workers in their occupations.
By Amanda Paulson | Staff writer of The Christian Science MonitorPage 1 of 2
Chicago - They may not enjoy the most prestige – and they're certainly not among the highest paid – but members of the nation's clergy are among the happiest of the country's workers.
That's one finding in a new University of Chicago report that tracked job satisfaction and overall happiness with a variety of professions.
The results seem to have little to do with salary – though skill and education factors in – and lots to do with helping others and creative expression. Firefighters, educators, artists, and physical therapists are all among the most satisfied in their professions.
And clergy, surprisingly, top both lists.
"One wants certain material benefits, but the bottom line in a person's life may not be their income – it may be 'Am I happy? Am I getting satisfaction out of this job?' " says Tom Smith, director of the General Social Survey at the University of Chicago's National Opinion Research Center. "It may be something people want to consider." Mr. Smith compiled the report, released Tuesday, using several years' of data from the General Social Survey, which asks a variety of questions in face-to-face interviews of a representative sample of Americans. It analyzed data from more than 50,000 people, and included occupations that had at least 24 people.
It's the first time, Smith says, that job satisfaction has been broken down to this level of specific occupation, and he was surprised to see clergy at the top.
"We expected high-prestige jobs to have more satisfaction and better happiness," he explains – a hypothesis that was largely supported by the results. "But among the high-prestige jobs, it's those that involve caring for and helping others that put them high."
For their part, clergy members say they can understand why their profession leads to happiness, despite its reputation as a tough job. "I feel enormously privileged in that my work overlaps with my passion and sense of calling," says Lillian Daniel, senior minister at the First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Glen Ellyn, Ill. "There are parts of the ministry that feel like work, but most of my day is spent doing things that I would love to do as a volunteer."
In the past week, for instance, Reverend Daniel read 26 faith papers written by eighth-graders preparing for confirmation and wrote specific blessings for each child. "It was creative, meaningful, exciting," she says. "Even in the midst of funerals you feel that it's the most crucial work you do. It might be hard, but you'd never get to the end and say, 'What's the point?' "
