City & Guilds Survey

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Happiness is...work life balance

Qualifications for a happier career

The results are in from the 5th annual City & Guilds Happiness Index and they show that once again Beauticians and Hairdressers are the happiest workers in the UK.

Which are the 3 happiest professions?

1. Beauticians

  •  Beauty therapists are the happiest workers in the UK with an average happiness level of almost 9 out of 10.
  • Over half (56%) of the UK's beauty therapists claim to be happier than they were a year ago and 1 in 3 beauticians have the highest possible happiness level of 10 out of 10.
  • This is primarily due to having better relationships with colleagues, which nearly half (46 per cent) of beauty therapists claim have improved in the last year.
  • In addition to good relationships with colleagues, beauty therapists also value the fact that they have an interest in what they do for a living, which 96 per cent believe is important to on-the-job happiness.
  • 82 per cent of beauty therapists would recommend their employers to a friend.

Find out about City & Guilds Beauty Therapy qualifications


2. Hairdressers

  • Hairdressers are the second happiest workers in the UK with an average happiness level of just over 8 out of 10.
  • Just under half (46 per cent) of the UK's hairdressers claim to be happier than they were a year ago 1 in 3 (34 per cent) have the highest possible happiness level of 10 out of 10.
  • This is primarily due to having better relationships with colleagues, which a staggering two thirds (68 per cent) of hairdressers claim have improved in the last year.
  • In addition to good relationships with colleagues, hairdressers also value the fact that they have an interest in what they do for a living, which 100 per cent of hairdressers believe is important to on-the-job happiness.
  • 80% of hairdressers would recommend their employers to a friend.

Find out about City & Guilds Hairdressing qualifications


3. Armed Forces

  • The armed forces employ some of the happiest workers in the UK with an average happiness level of just over 8 out of 10, ranking them third in the City & Guilds Happiness Index.
  • One in five (20 per cent) of the UK's armed forces claim to be happier than they were a year ago and one quarter (26 per cent) have the highest possible happiness level of 10 out of 10.
  • This is primarily due to an improvement in their work / life balance, which 70 per cent say has contributed to an increase in their on-the-job happiness.
  • In addition to their work / life balance, the armed forces also value having an interest in what they do for a living, which 100 per cent of respondents considered to be important to securing on-the-job happiness.
  • More members of the armed forces than any other profession would recommend their employer to a friend with 94 per cent saying they were likely to encourage their mates to join the services.


The full happiness rankings

Position Profession
1 Beauticians
2 = Hairdressers
2 = Armed Forces
4 Catering/chefs
5 Retail staff
6 = Teachers
6 = Marketing/PR
6 = Accountants
9 = Secretaries/Receptionists
9 = Plumbers
9 = Engineers
9 = Architects
13 = Journalists
13 = Mechanics/Automotive
13 = Human Resources
16 Call centre
17 = IT specialists
17 = Nurses
17 = Banker/Finance
17 = Builders/construction

Qualifications for a happier career

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