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Regional differences in job satisfaction

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  • Richard Jones
  • Peter Sloane

Abstract

Job satisfaction is significantly higher in Wales than in London and the South East, the rest of England and Scotland. This is despite the fact that among these four regions, earnings are lowest in Wales. Using data from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS), we investigate the determinants of job satisfaction and attempt to explain why workers in Wales are happier in their work than workers in other parts of the UK. We find that workers in Wales appear to be less concerned about pay than workers in other regions. We suggest that because lower earnings tend to be associated with higher levels of unemployment and inactivity, being in work may be regarded more favourably in more economically depressed regions. We also suggest the climate of industrial relations, as perceived by workers, is better in Wales than elsewhere.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard Jones & Peter Sloane, 2009. "Regional differences in job satisfaction," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(8), pages 1019-1041.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:41:y:2009:i:8:p:1019-1041
    DOI: 10.1080/00036840601019067
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kristensen, Nicolai & Westergård-Nielsen, Niels C., 2004. "Does Low Job Satisfaction Lead to Job Mobility?," IZA Discussion Papers 1026, IZA Network @ LISER.
    2. Stephen Drinkwater & David Blackaby, 2004. "Migration and Labour Market Differences: The Case of Wales," School of Economics Discussion Papers 0604, School of Economics, University of Surrey.
    3. J. L. Baxter, 1993. "Behavioural Foundations of Economics," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-1-349-22627-6, April.
    4. Stephen Drinkwater & Peter Ingram, 2005. "Have Industrial Relations in the UK Really Improved?," LABOUR, CEIS, vol. 19(2), pages 373-398, June.
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    2. Yamamura, Eiji, 2013. "Trial experience, satisfaction and incentive to bring another lawsuit: Does aspiration level influence winners and losers?," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 125-131.
    3. Hauff, Sven & Richter, Nicole Franziska & Tressin, Tabea, 2015. "Situational job characteristics and job satisfaction: The moderating role of national culture," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 24(4), pages 710-723.
    4. Vieira, José António Cabral, 2019. "Climbing the Ladders of Job Satisfaction and Employees' Organizational Commitment: A Semi-Nonparametric Approach," IZA Discussion Papers 12787, IZA Network @ LISER.
    5. Cristina Bernini & Alessandro Tampieri, 2023. "Much Ado about Salary: A Comparison of Monetary and Non-Monetary Components of Job Satisfaction," Working Papers - Economics wp2023_06.rdf, Universita' degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Scienze per l'Economia e l'Impresa.
    6. Damiano Fiorillo & Nunzia Nappo, 2014. "Job satisfaction in Italy: individual characteristics and social relations," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 41(8), pages 683-704, August.
    7. Snežana Lekić & Jelena Vapa-Tankosić & Slavica Mandić & Jasmina Rajaković-Mijailović & Nemanja Lekić & Jelena Mijailović, 2020. "Analysis of the Quality of the Employee–Bank Relationship in Urban and Rural Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-22, July.
    8. Alex Bryson & Rhys Davies, 2019. "Accounting for geographical variance in the union satisfaction gap," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(2), pages 104-125, March.

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