53: A Global Understanding of Work Enjoyment and Human Wellbeing

Music City Center 

Work is central to human life, shaping various aspects of individual well-being. Understanding the global dynamics of work is critical for informing policies and workplace practices that address disparities and promote greater well-being worldwide. This study analyzes Gallup World Poll data from 314,803 working adults across 145 nations (2020–2023), offering one of the most comprehensive global assessments of work enjoyment to date. We identify global trends in work enjoyment, examining its variation across sociodemographic groups. We assess two potential drivers of work enjoyment: having choices in one's work and perceiving one's work as valuable to others. Finally, we examine the relationship between work enjoyment and broader life satisfaction metrics, including overall life evaluation (Cantril Scale) and daily emotional experiences. Among our findings, work enjoyment emerges as the strongest driver of life evaluation and emotional well-being, compared to choice and contribution. Furthermore, experiencing enjoyment, choice, and contribution significantly reduces disparities in well-being across specific groups including income, education, sex, region, and marital status.

work enjoyment

wellbeing

life evaluation

disparities

Gallup World Poll

public health 

ENAR