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Singapore loves a good ranking. Best airport. Safest country at night. Most powerful passport. But here’s one title we probably won’t be framing up anytime soon: Singaporean workers report one of the lowest workplace happiness rates in Asia-Pacific.
A new Workplace Happiness Index by Jobstreet by Seek – conducted with research agency Nature and polling 1,000 workers aged 18 to 64 – found that only 56 per cent of employees here say they’re happy at work. That’s one of the lowest scores in the region, edging out only Hong Kong at 47 per cent.
Elsewhere, the mood looks markedly sunnier. In Indonesia, 82 per cent report feeling somewhat or extremely happy at work. The Philippines follows at 77 per cent. There's a caveat, though: the study notes a cultural tendency among Indonesians and Filipinos to answer surveys more positively.
It’s not that Singaporeans are cynical about the idea of workplace joy. Eight in 10 actually believe happiness on the job is possible. However, 45 per cent say they feel burnt out or exhausted. And here’s where it gets more nuanced: 41 per cent of those who describe themselves as “happy” also admit they’re running on empty.
So, why? 64 per cent say a bigger paycheck would make them happier. So clearly, money matters – but other factors are also at play. The survey found that having meaning at work is the strongest driver of long-term happiness, followed by career progression and day-to-day role satisfaction. Currently, only half of the respondents feel good about their sense of purpose. Just 37 per cent feel positive about their career advancement. One in two don’t feel valued for what they contribute.
The generational divide is stark, too, though sample sizes vary. Millennials (30 to 44) are the least happy at 52 per cent – they report the highest stress levels, feel the least valued, and show the lowest motivation to go above and beyond. Baby Boomers, on the other hand, are the most content at 71 per cent, buoyed by seniority, autonomy and a stronger sense of belonging at work. Gen Z (18 to 29) charts a different course altogether, ranking flexible work arrangements above salary as their top happiness driver, even as they prove the most willing to trade job security or longer hours for better pay.
The study's recommendations for employers are clear: help workers connect their daily tasks to the company's broader mission, create visible career progression pathways, and address burnout through systemic support – not just wellness perks. Agree?
For the full report and employer playbook, visit this link.
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