Only 56% of Singapore Workers are Happy, Despite 8 in 10 Believing Happiness is Possible

SINGAPORE, 5 February 2026 — Singapore’s workforce has not lost faith in the idea of finding happiness in the workplace – but many are struggling to experience it in practice. New research from Jobstreet by SEEK reveals a widening gap between what workers believe work should feel like and what they are actually living day to day, with burnout, limited progression and uneven access to opportunity emerging as critical pressure points. 

The Workplace Happiness Index: Singapore, conducted with research agency Nature, surveyed 1,000 respondents in Singapore’s employment market, aged 18 to 64. The findings show that while optimism remains high, Singapore records one of the lowest levels of workplace happiness among Asia Pacific markets, with only 56% of workers describing themselves as happy at work. This is just above Hong Kong’s (47%) and behind Australia (57%), Malaysia (70%) and the Philippines (77%). Indonesia leads the region’s workplace happiness index, at 82%. 

Pay gets people in the door, but purpose makes them happy While salary remains an important driver – with 64% of workers saying higher pay would increase their happiness – the study finds that long-term workplace happiness is shaped more strongly by purpose, growth and recognition. 

Figure 1. Drivers of happiness at work

Purpose at work emerges as the strongest driver of sustained happiness, followed by career progression opportunities and day-to-day role satisfaction. However, only half of Singaporeans say they are satisfied with their sense of purpose at work, and just 37% feel positive about their career progression. Recognition also remains inconsistent, with only one in two employees feeling valued for their contributions. In today’s high-cost environment, fair pay is increasingly seen as a baseline rather than a differentiator. What keeps employees engaged is work that feels meaningful, offers growth and acknowledges their impact. 

Singaporeans believe happiness is possible, but burn out before they get there Despite eight in ten respondents believing they could be happy at work, nearly half (45%) report feeling burnt out or exhausted by their jobs. This rift between aspiration and reality has real business consequences: workers who are happy are five times more likely to go above and beyond for their organisation, and 37% less likely to be looking for another job than their unhappy counterparts, thus linking happiness to productivity, loyalty and performance.

Surprisingly, the report also found that workers who describe themselves as happy (41%) also say they still feel burnt out. These workers are typically those who earn more than SG$6,000 monthly (51%). Demographically, men (63%) and those who are parents (66%) are also more likely to feel burnt out, but happy. To mitigate burnout, employees should look towards seeking greater purpose at work, and work closely with their employers to raise issues before it becomes overwhelming. 

Happiness at work is not experienced equally  The report also reveals clear disparities in workplace happiness across gender and age groups, pointing to structural rather than individual differences. 

Figure 2. Happiness with different elements by gender

Men report significantly higher levels of workplace happiness (62%) than women (51%), with women consistently less satisfied across key drivers including purpose (49% vs 55%), career progression opportunities (33% vs 41%) and feeling valued for the work they do (50% vs 58%). These gaps mirror income disparities, suggesting that access to opportunity and recognition continues to shape the work experience. 

Figure 3. Value and motivation by generation

Generational differences are also pronounced. Millennials (those aged 30 to 44 years old) are the least happy generation (52%) and are also the least motivated to go above and beyond in their workplace (44%). They report the lowest happiness with their stress levels at work (31%) and feel the least valued for the work that they do (49%) as compared to Baby Boomers (65%), Gen Z (58%) and Gen X (56%). Often called ‘the sandwich generation’, Millennials often have the responsibility of taking care of both their parents and their children, which can contribute to increased levels of stress. 

By contrast, Baby Boomers are the happiest generation (71%), and are more likely to feel a strong sense of purpose, value and belonging at work. This could be attributed to greater autonomy, seniority at work and flexibility to pursue work that feels more meaningful. 

Happiness requires a systemic change in the workplace  The majority of workers (85%) view happiness as a shared responsibility between employers and employees. For organisations, the findings suggest that addressing happiness requires moving beyond perks towards systemic change in how work is designed, recognised and supported. 

Effective approaches include connecting daily work to an organisational mission, and mapping roles to individual strengths and passions. This helps create career development pathways for each individual, and can open dialogue to address burnout through open feedback and wellbeing support, ensuring recognition is consistent and meaningful. To keep a pulse on what's happening on ground, employers can implement surveys, regular one-on-one check-ins and happiness audits.

For more information on the Workplace Happiness Index report, please click here. 

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