Mark Easton Home editor Vicar or publican - which jobs make you happy?
Which would you be happier doing - serving pints or serving God? Helpful advice on how to make those difficult life choices is on hand.
The Cabinet Office has been looking at the relationship between different jobs and levels of life satisfaction, and publicans, it turns out, are in the unhappiest occupation of all. They are closely followed by brickies and debt collectors.
The happiest workers, the research suggests, are vicars and priests. Members of the clergy enjoy the most satisfying lives - but farmers and fitness instructors are pretty jolly too.
The government thinks people should have access to information on the relationship between the salary and the satisfaction associated with a career - part of the prime minister's commitment to find policies that boost the wellbeing of the nation.
What emerges is that, while there is a link between earnings and life-satisfaction, some quite well-paid jobs are populated by those with low levels of wellbeing - and vice versa. For example, despite an average salary of almost £39,000 a year, quantity surveyors work in the 41st most miserable occupation out of 274 different categories.
The life of a publican can be complicated The average farmer earns £24,500, but they are a particularly chipper lot with the eighth highest life satisfaction of any job. In fact, the outdoor life does seem to be associated with greater personal wellbeing - managers in agriculture and horticulture are the third happiest and farm workers are in the top 25 too.
The people whose jobs are associated with the lowest life satisfaction include telesales workers, bar staff, rent collectors and leisure assistants.
The Cabinet Office is working on a web-based calculator that will allow those torn between two career paths to compare the average salaries and life-satisfaction associated with each.
Someone, for instance, considering working as a company secretary (average salary £18,200) or taking a bit more money to be an ambulance driver (£22,800) would learn that the people doing the former job report significantly higher levels of life satisfaction than those in the latter.
None of this means you can't be a joyful publican or a miserable vicar, of course. Nor does it mean that those jobs make people happy or sad. The data only offers evidence on the average life satisfaction of those doing different jobs. It might be that naturally gloomy people run pubs and unusually cheery types become quality regulators, for example.
But it does provide a clue to choosing the career path that is likely to be most fulfilling.
The official tables might be seen as one of the first tangible demonstrations of how government is trying to use policy to boost the happiness of the nation.
How could you not be happy? Six months after arriving in Downing Street, David Cameron told the country how there was a need to "take practical steps to make sure government is properly focused on our quality of life as well as economic growth".
The prime minister wanted a "reappraisal of what matters" that would "lead to government policy that is more focused not just on the bottom line, but on all those things that make life worthwhile".
The Green Book (the bible for Whitehall policy wonks) was amended to include a section devoted to Valuing Non-Market Impacts, and among those was social wellbeing.
Officials were advised of the importance "in ensuring that the full range of impacts of proposed policies are considered". Happiness - or the lack of it - should be part of the equation.
But searching through the vast piles of Treasury documentation published around this week's budget, I cannot find any reference to "quality of life" or "wellbeing". Not one.
The words "happiness" and "wellbeing" did not appear anywhere in the chancellor's budget speech. George Osborne's "long-term plan" had no mention of joy or even life-satisfaction. It was focused on economic resilience, growth and jobs - with no calculation as to how fulfilling those jobs might be.
This could be seen as a bit of a miss, especially given the results of a survey published this week indicating that, when asked to choose the kind of society they would prefer to live in, 87% of UK adults pick "greatest overall happiness and well-being", rather than "greatest overall wealth" (8%).
But cabbies seem so chipper Let us not be gloomy about happiness, though. Some government policy makers are already taking account of wellbeing in making decisions.
I am told that high-level deliberations on whether there should be a third runway at Heathrow have included discussion on the impact it would have on wellbeing.
Opponents emphasise the "high levels of stress and anxiety" for people living close to the airport. Heathrow Airport's consultation document warns that the jobs impact of not building the runway "would be devastating for the wellbeing of the local community".
The Cabinet Office has confirmed there is good evidence aircraft noise significantly and measurably increases anxiety around Heathrow, but ministers will be balancing this against the strong association between life satisfaction and employment.
Another policy idea being assessed according to its wellbeing implications is the proposal to shift the May Day bank holiday in England and Wales.
"What impact could moving the early May Bank Holiday have on health and well being?" the government consultation document asks. "In particular what impact could moving a bank holiday to the autumn have on the health and morale of workers?"
Quietly, the implications of the happiness agenda are feeding into government decision-making, even if politicians are reluctant to be explicit about it.
A report out on Thursday from the former head of the civil service, Sir Gus O'Donnell, commissioned by the Legatum Institute, explains the impact wellbeing research is already having on policy and argues for more of it in the future.
Happier times? It confirms what the chancellor must know - that economic growth is indeed good for social wellbeing. But there are other areas of state activity that might be given greater priority if politicians want to improve the nation's happiness.
An emphasis on improving mental health is one, ensuring towns and cities include plenty of places where residents can meet and interact is another. There is evidence that an "active" welfare system encouraging people into work is better for wellbeing than a "passive" safety-net approach.
I wrote recently about the idea that schools might teach "resilience" and "character". This, it appears, would also have significant wellbeing advantages.
So, it is a shame that the hundreds of officials who constructed the budget this week could find no space for the words "happiness" or "wellbeing" or "life-satisfaction". But it may be that that reflects more on the language of the Treasury than the ambition of the government.
Gradually, we are becoming comfortable with the concepts of wellbeing and life satisfaction in our discussions about public policy. And that, I suppose, makes me happy.
| (Rank) Occupation | Mean income (£s) | Satisfaction rating |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Clergy | 20,568 | 8.291 |
| (2) Chief executives and senior officials | 117,700 | 7.957 |
| (3) Managers and proprietors in agriculture and horticulture | 31,721 | 7.946 |
| (4) Company secretaries | 18,176 | 7.93 |
| (5) Quality assurance and regulatory professionals | 42,898 | 7.891 |
| (6) Health care practice managers | 31,267 | 7.843 |
| (7) Medical practitioners | 70,648 | 7.836 |
| (8) Farmers | 24,520 | 7.808 |
| (9) Hotel and accommodation managers and proprietors | 32,470 | 7.795 |
| (10) Skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades supervisors | 35,316 | 7.795 |
| (11) Senior professionals of educational establishments | 49,495 | 7.789 |
| (12) Physiotherapists | 27,814 | 7.787 |
| (13) Primary and nursery education teaching professionals | 29,268 | 7.786 |
| (14) Electrical engineers | 44,439 | 7.739 |
| (15) Fitness instructors | 10,378 | 7.718 |
| (16) Therapy professionals | 28,524 | 7.714 |
| (17) School secretaries | 15,614 | 7.711 |
| (18) Information technology and telecommunications directors | 64,879 | 7.705 |
| (19) Human resource managers and directors | 54,120 | 7.702 |
| (20) Financial institution managers and directors | 73,911 | 7.701 |
| (21) Dental nurses | 15,024 | 7.699 |
| (22) Musicians | 21,492 | 7.696 |
| (23) Farm workers | 17,925 | 7.692 |
| (24) Marketing and sales directors | 84,377 | 7.688 |
| (25) Functional managers and directors | 53,574 | 7.687 |
| (26) Production managers and directors in manufacturing | 51,498 | 7.68 |
| (27) Research and development managers | 49,590 | 7.674 |
| (28) Midwives | 30,020 | 7.673 |
| (29) Pharmacists | 36,739 | 7.667 |
| (29) Advertising accounts managers and creative directors | 37,636 | 7.667 |
| (31) Dental practitioners | 53,567 | 7.663 |
| (32) Sales accounts and business development managers | 47,862 | 7.641 |
| (33) Travel agents | 18,344 | 7.64 |
| (34) Secondary education teaching professionals | 33,407 | 7.637 |
| (35) Business, research and administrative professionals | 36,012 | 7.636 |
| (36) Education advisers and school inspectors | 34,369 | 7.629 |
| (37) Financial managers and directors | 76,986 | 7.628 |
| (38) Biological scientists and biochemists | 37,627 | 7.621 |
| (39) Natural and social science professionals | 36,574 | 7.617 |
| (40) Personal assistants and other secretaries | 19,569 | 7.616 |
| (41) Records clerks and assistants | 19,146 | 7.615 |
| (42) Authors, writers and translators | 26,207 | 7.602 |
| (43) Librarians | 24,584 | 7.6 |
| (44) Solicitors | 44,787 | 7.599 |
| (45) Chartered and certified accountants | 37,850 | 7.597 |
| (46) Customer service managers and supervisors | 28,718 | 7.593 |
| (47) IT specialist managers | 48,384 | 7.59 |
| (48) Leisure and sports managers | 28,619 | 7.59 |
| (49) Financial and accounting technicians | 44,038 | 7.587 |
| (50) Teaching assistants | 11,796 | 7.587 |
| (51) Childminders and related occupations | 12,949 | 7.584 |
| (52) Finance and investment analysts and advisers | 46,797 | 7.579 |
| (53) Business and financial project management professionals | 50,038 | 7.575 |
| (54) Fire service officers (watch manager and below) | 28,183 | 7.574 |
| (55) Civil engineers | 38,236 | 7.574 |
| (56) Purchasing managers and directors | 51,806 | 7.572 |
| (57) Health professionals | 30,081 | 7.569 |
| (58) Train and tram drivers | 45,489 | 7.566 |
| (59) Pharmaceutical technicians | 20,815 | 7.564 |
| (60) Air travel assistants | 22,001 | 7.556 |
| (61) Higher education teaching professionals | 39,076 | 7.556 |
| (62) Property, housing and estate managers | 40,209 | 7.552 |
| (63) Health services and public health managers and directors | 49,015 | 7.549 |
| (64) Actuaries, economists and statisticians | 61,584 | 7.542 |
| (65) Nurses | 26,158 | 7.534 |
| (66) Engineering professionals | 41,421 | 7.532 |
| (67) Bank and post office clerks | 19,908 | 7.53 |
| (68) Mechanical engineers | 44,176 | 7.528 |
| (69) Production managers and directors in construction | 47,452 | 7.524 |
| (70) Management consultants and business analysts | 42,811 | 7.522 |
| (71) Counsellors | 19,220 | 7.51 |
| (72) Sports coaches, instructors and officials | 11,762 | 7.507 |
| (73) Hairdressing and beauty salon managers and proprietors | 25,011 | 7.506 |
| (74) Police officers (sergeant and below) | 39,346 | 7.501 |
| (75) Garage managers and proprietors | 38,112 | 7.493 |
| (76) Managers and directors in transport and distribution | 40,856 | 7.493 |
| (77) Financial administrative occupations | 18,323 | 7.49 |
| (78) Playworkers | 7,400 | 7.489 |
| (79) Further education teaching professionals | 28,043 | 7.488 |
| (80) Social services managers and directors | 39,961 | 7.487 |
| (81) Managers and proprietors in other services | 36,405 | 7.486 |
| (82) IT project and programme managers | 49,128 | 7.486 |
| (83) Human resources and industrial relations officers | 28,999 | 7.483 |
| (84) Health associate professionals | 21,569 | 7.481 |
| (85) Design and development engineers | 39,890 | 7.474 |
| (86) Financial accounts managers | 40,952 | 7.472 |
| (87) Buyers and procurement officers | 31,454 | 7.471 |
| (88) Production and process engineers | 38,475 | 7.47 |
| (89) Taxation experts | 45,360 | 7.469 |
| (90) Nursery nurses and assistants | 11,580 | 7.468 |
| (91) Pharmacy and other dispensing assistants | 11,920 | 7.458 |
| (92) Welfare professionals | 26,568 | 7.448 |
| (93) IT business analysts, architects and systems designers | 43,848 | 7.442 |
| (94) Educational support assistants | 11,569 | 7.442 |
| (95) Construction project managers and related professionals | 42,066 | 7.441 |
| (96) Quality control and planning engineers | 34,868 | 7.439 |
| (97) Architects | 44,024 | 7.433 |
| (98) Public relations professionals | 31,818 | 7.426 |
| (99) Special needs education teaching professionals | 28,894 | 7.424 |
| (100) Medical radiographers | 31,505 | 7.422 |
| (101) Medical secretaries | 17,314 | 7.421 |
| (102) Credit controllers | 19,724 | 7.421 |
| (103) Groundsmen and greenkeepers | 18,816 | 7.419 |
| (104) Hairdressers and barbers | 10,174 | 7.417 |
| (105) Child and early years officers | 21,634 | 7.417 |
| (106) Teaching and other educational professionals | 18,697 | 7.413 |
| (107) Book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks | 20,646 | 7.411 |
| (108) Legal professionals | 75,399 | 7.406 |
| (109) Planning, process and production technicians | 29,789 | 7.406 |
| (110) Public services associate professionals | 28,430 | 7.403 |
| (111) Journalists, newspaper and periodical editors | 35,117 | 7.402 |
| (112) Environment professionals | 33,220 | 7.402 |
| (113) Aircraft maintenance and related trades | 34,511 | 7.394 |
| (114) Other administrative occupations | 15,744 | 7.386 |
| (115) Business and related associate professionals | 30,171 | 7.381 |
| (116) Receptionists | 12,595 | 7.379 |
| (117) Programmers and software development professionals | 40,165 | 7.377 |
| (118) Vocational and industrial trainers and instructors | 26,490 | 7.376 |
| (119) Psychologists | 34,174 | 7.376 |
| (120) IT operations technicians | 29,815 | 7.376 |
| (121) Scaffolders, stagers and riggers | 30,591 | 7.375 |
| (122) Legal associate professionals | 29,492 | 7.367 |
| (123) Pensions and insurance clerks and assistants | 22,694 | 7.366 |
| (124) Business and related research professionals | 32,053 | 7.366 |
| (125) Plant and machine operatives | 24,278 | 7.366 |
| (126) Office managers | 28,790 | 7.366 |
| (127) Sales supervisors | 18,383 | 7.358 |
| (128) Engineering technicians | 32,528 | 7.357 |
| (129) Draughtspersons | 29,702 | 7.352 |
| (130) Plumbers and heating and ventilating engineers | 27,832 | 7.35 |
| (131) Human resources administrative occupations | 19,633 | 7.35 |
| (131) Metal working production and maintenance fitters | 29,173 | 7.35 |
| (133) Conference and exhibition managers and organisers | 24,696 | 7.35 |
| (134) Electronics engineers | 36,751 | 7.348 |
| (135) Office supervisors | 25,138 | 7.345 |
| (136) Houseparents and residential wardens | 17,420 | 7.34 |
| (137) Medical and dental technicians | 26,922 | 7.339 |
| (138) Business sales executives | 32,880 | 7.338 |
| (139) Precision instrument makers and repairers | 29,334 | 7.333 |
| (140) Telecommunications engineers | 32,253 | 7.329 |
| (141) Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors | 29,594 | 7.328 |
| (142) Senior care workers | 17,064 | 7.324 |
| (143) Inspectors of standards and regulations | 28,628 | 7.318 |
| (144) Arts officers, producers and directors | 35,825 | 7.315 |
| (145) School midday and crossing patrol occupations | 3,167 | 7.314 |
| (146) Construction and building trades supervisors | 33,036 | 7.313 |
| (147) Information technology and telecommunications professionals | 40,222 | 7.308 |
| (148) Careers advisers and vocational guidance specialists | 22,752 | 7.307 |
| (149) Sales administrators | 19,573 | 7.307 |
| (150) Health and safety officers | 33,445 | 7.3 |
| (151) Sewing machinists | 13,982 | 7.297 |
| (152) Managers and directors in retail and wholesale | 29,009 | 7.297 |
| (153) Occupational therapists | 27,353 | 7.294 |
| (154) Estate agents and auctioneers | 24,783 | 7.291 |
| (155) Welfare and housing associate professionals | 19,156 | 7.283 |
| (156) Finance officers | 22,090 | 7.278 |
| (157) Assemblers (vehicles and metal goods) | 29,845 | 7.277 |
| (158) Routine inspectors and testers | 24,787 | 7.277 |
| (159) Beauticians and related occupations | 12,418 | 7.271 |
| (160) IT user support technicians | 29,457 | 7.27 |
| (161) Other elementary services occupations | 10,750 | 7.269 |
| (162) Paramedics | 36,841 | 7.263 |
| (163) Managers and directors in storage and warehousing | 32,133 | 7.259 |
| (164) Legal secretaries | 17,951 | 7.253 |
| (165) Transport and distribution clerks and assistants | 23,583 | 7.25 |
| (166) Typists and related keyboard occupations | 16,421 | 7.248 |
| (167) Marketing associate professionals | 30,051 | 7.237 |
| (168) Chartered surveyors | 35,480 | 7.236 |
| (169) Product, clothing and related designers | 29,301 | 7.224 |
| (170) Leisure and travel service occupations | 15,568 | 7.222 |
| (170) Housing officers | 23,001 | 7.222 |
| (172) Officers of non-governmental organisations | 21,454 | 7.22 |
| (173) Gardeners and landscape gardeners | 17,595 | 7.22 |
| (174) Estimators, valuers and assessors | 32,185 | 7.22 |
| (175) Social workers | 28,182 | 7.217 |
| (176) Postal workers, mail sorters, messengers and couriers | 23,178 | 7.202 |
| (177) Laboratory technicians | 21,168 | 7.194 |
| (178) Glaziers, window fabricators and fitters | 20,525 | 7.193 |
| (179) Electrical and electronic trades | 30,696 | 7.193 |
| (180) Stock control clerks and assistants | 20,891 | 7.19 |
| (181) Local government administrative occupations | 20,351 | 7.189 |
| (182) Electricians and electrical fitters | 30,055 | 7.185 |
| (183) Protective service associate professionals | 35,510 | 7.183 |
| (184) Graphic designers | 25,330 | 7.178 |
| (185) Chemical and related process operatives | 25,307 | 7.177 |
| (186) Elementary sales occupations | 12,301 | 7.174 |
| (187) National government administrative occupations | 20,330 | 7.174 |
| (188) Web design and development professionals | 29,870 | 7.169 |
| (189) Paper and wood machine operatives | 20,557 | 7.157 |
| (190) Housekeepers and related occupations | 12,947 | 7.157 |
| (191) Science, engineering and production technicians | 26,710 | 7.151 |
| (192) Artists | 28,258 | 7.149 |
| (193) Electrical and electronics technicians | 28,893 | 7.13 |
| (194) Quality assurance technicians | 27,303 | 7.129 |
| (195) Caretakers | 16,114 | 7.126 |
| (196) Library clerks and assistants | 12,190 | 7.125 |
| (197) Customer service occupations | 16,525 | 7.123 |
| (198) Nursing auxiliaries and assistants | 15,618 | 7.121 |
| (199) Chemical scientists | 35,492 | 7.113 |
| (200) Cooks | 11,346 | 7.106 |
| (201) Elementary administration occupations | 11,896 | 7.105 |
| (202) Sales related occupations | 18,782 | 7.103 |
| (203) Butchers | 17,681 | 7.103 |
| (204) Restaurant and catering establishment managers and proprietors | 23,402 | 7.1 |
| (204) Driving instructors | 29,166 | 7.1 |
| (206) Catering and bar managers | 17,934 | 7.096 |
| (207) Metal machining setters and setter-operators | 27,223 | 7.095 |
| (208) Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians | 25,238 | 7.095 |
| (209) Chefs | 17,391 | 7.09 |
| (210) Construction and building trades | 26,682 | 7.08 |
| (211) Metal working machine operatives | 22,044 | 7.08 |
| (212) Communication operators | 26,715 | 7.078 |
| (213) Animal care services occupations | 14,980 | 7.073 |
| (214) Prison service officers (below principal officer) | 26,616 | 7.071 |
| (215) Undertakers, mortuary and crematorium assistants | 16,526 | 7.068 |
| (216) Welding trades | 26,735 | 7.063 |
| (217) Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators | 24,242 | 7.047 |
| (218) Launderers, dry cleaners and pressers | 11,041 | 7.046 |
| (219) Cleaning and housekeeping managers and supervisors | 14,562 | 7.042 |
| (220) Merchandisers and window dressers | 16,239 | 7.041 |
| (221) Large goods vehicle drivers | 25,602 | 7.039 |
| (222) Packers, bottlers, canners and fillers | 16,820 | 7.037 |
| (223) Youth and community workers | 20,240 | 7.017 |
| (224) Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers | 20,182 | 7.012 |
| (225) Bricklayers and masons | 22,476 | 7.006 |
| (226) Market research interviewers | 7,122 | 7 |
| (226) Other skilled trades | 23,431 | 7 |
| (228) Carpenters and joiners | 24,029 | 6.991 |
| (229) Food, drink and tobacco process operatives | 18,133 | 6.986 |
| (230) Kitchen and catering assistants | 8,865 | 6.985 |
| (231) Sales and retail assistants | 10,097 | 6.982 |
| (232) Roundspersons and van salespersons | 21,375 | 6.982 |
| (233) Other drivers and transport operatives | 24,420 | 6.979 |
| (234) Quantity surveyors | 38,855 | 6.971 |
| (235) Retail cashiers and check-out operators | 9,509 | 6.968 |
| (236) Cleaners and domestics | 8,067 | 6.961 |
| (237) Shelf fillers | 11,174 | 6.959 |
| (238) Assemblers and routine operatives | 20,161 | 6.958 |
| (239) Elementary process plant occupations | 19,409 | 6.94 |
| (240) Painters and decorators | 22,700 | 6.936 |
| (241) Printers | 26,833 | 6.921 |
| (242) Vehicle and parts salespersons and advisers | 21,403 | 6.907 |
| (243) IT engineers | 27,064 | 6.904 |
| (244) Waiters and waitresses | 7,651 | 6.893 |
| (245) Metal making and treating process operatives | 24,941 | 6.881 |
| (246) Plasterers | 21,155 | 6.88 |
| (247) Bakers and flour confectioners | 16,948 | 6.873 |
| (248) Mobile machine drivers and operatives | 25,472 | 6.86 |
| (249) Assemblers (electrical and electronic products) | 19,590 | 6.846 |
| (250) Refuse and salvage occupations | 19,454 | 6.844 |
| (251) Care workers and home carers | 12,804 | 6.844 |
| (252) Bus and coach drivers | 23,095 | 6.841 |
| (253) Roofers, roof tilers and slaters | 21,921 | 6.837 |
| (254) Taxi and cab drivers and chauffeurs | 16,416 | 6.834 |
| (255) Van drivers | 18,744 | 6.817 |
| (256) Elementary storage occupations | 18,430 | 6.812 |
| (257) Fork-lift truck drivers | 21,444 | 6.797 |
| (258) Parking and civil enforcement occupations | 18,065 | 6.795 |
| (259) Call and contact centre occupations | 15,339 | 6.78 |
| (260) Window cleaners | 12,561 | 6.747 |
| (261) Construction operatives | 21,057 | 6.746 |
| (262) Fishing and other elementary agriculture occupations | 15,679 | 6.742 |
| (263) Security guards and related occupations | 20,841 | 6.733 |
| (264) Ambulance staff (excluding paramedics) | 22,854 | 6.723 |
| (265) Plastics process operatives | 21,066 | 6.722 |
| (266) Bar staff | 7,317 | 6.686 |
| (267) Care escorts | 7,343 | 6.614 |
| (268) Sports and leisure assistants | 11,651 | 6.607 |
| (269) Telephone salespersons | 17,362 | 6.605 |
| (270) Floorers and wall tilers | 23,547 | 6.571 |
| (271) Industrial cleaning process occupations | 15,241 | 6.563 |
| (272) Debt, rent and other cash collectors | 17,371 | 6.561 |
| (273) Elementary construction occupations | 20,910 | 6.389 |
| (274) Publicans and managers of licensed premises | 25,222 | 6.38 |
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