MOSCOW, 4 April 2024. Russian Public Opinion Research Cener (VCIOM) presents the findings of a monitoring study devoted to the opinions of Russians about work.

It’s a pleasure to work!

Most of Russians who work are satisfied with their job (84%), including every second respondent who is quite satisfied (48%), which is the highest percentage since 2004. Over the twenty years this share has been fluctuating from 68% in 2011 to 84% in 2020 and now. Since 2018 the figure has not gone lower than 79%.

Fifteen percent of respondents are not satisfied with their job (2020 — 15%), the lowest percentage recorded in 2020 is still present. Two decades ago, the percentage was twice as big (2004 — 29%). Job satisfaction is shaped by:

• Financial situation. Most of those who are dissatisfied with their job are those who have bad financial situation (46%). As to those who have good financial situation, only 7% are dissatisfied whereas 93% are satisfied with their job.
• Level of education. The higher the level of education, the more often respondents are satisfied with their job. Job satisfaction is high among those who have incomplete higher and higher education diplomas (88%). Every third respondent with incomplete secondary education is dissatisfied with their job (33% vs. 12% of those who have incomplete higher and higher education diplomas); 61% are satisfied.
• Age. Those who are more likely to be satisfied with their job are young respondents aged 18-24 (90%) (vs 86-87% of those aged 25-44 and 82% of those aged over 45). Respondents aged 60+ are least likely to be satisfied with their job (77%).

With that in mind, a Russian who is satisfied with his/her job can be defined as someone with a good income, of young age and high level of education. A Russian who is dissatisfied with his/her job is of older age, with bad financial situation and an education level below secondary special.

How do we choose job?

Russian job priorities have changed over the recent twenty years. Salary is the most important consideration (50%), however it is less popular than two decades ago (2004, 200, 2009 — 74%, each). At the same time, more Russians pay attention to convenient work schedule (2024 — 31%, 2004 — 21%), building good relationship with coworkers, with the superiors (202 — 17%, 2004 — 6%).  

Opportunities for professional development have been stable, between 22-28% (2024 — 28%, 2004 — 23%).

The importance of social benefits package has been at the same level, both standard benefits package (2024 — 26%; before 2012 — 30-37%), and extended benefits package (2024 — 13%, 2004 — 14%); in certain years this option gained 21% (in 2007, 2020). Pension contributions are cited by 7% of respondents, which is the lowest share over the entire period of measurement.

As twenty years ago, respondents value good working conditions (2024 — 22%, 2007 — 22%, 2004 — 18%); formal workplace has been as important as ten years ago (2024 — 15%, 2013 — 16%).  

If we look at the data not from the perspective of dynamics but in terms of rating, the five major priorities when choosing a job include good pay (50%), schedule (31%), opportunities for professional self-realization (28%), standard benefits package (26%) and good working conditions (22%).

Those who are satisfied with their job tend to prioritize opportunities for professional self-realization (34% vs. 24% of those who are dissatisfied) and work schedule (34% vs. 27% of those who are dissatisfied). Those who are dissatisfied with their current job often value good working conditions (32% vs. 21% of those who are satisfied).

Men and women, as well as Russians of different ages choose their workplace in a different way. Women tend to pay attention to convenient work schedule (37% vs. 24% of men), social benefits (31% vs. 21% of men) and formal workplace (18% vs. 10% of men). Men often prioritize good pay (53% vs. 48% of women). This is especially crucial for those aged 25-34 (67%).

Opportunities for self-realization is of priority for younger generation – those aged 18-34 (48-44%). Young respondents also consider it important to build good relationships with the senior management and coworkers (23-25%). Russians aged 35-44, those who often have small or school-age kids, tend to prioritize schedule (42%).

VCIOM-Sputnik Russian nationwide telephone survey was conducted 31 March, 2024. A total of 1,600 Russians aged 18+ took part in the survey. Survey method: telephone interviews, stratified random sample based on a complete list of mobile phone numbers in use in Russia. Data were weighted for social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.

Key effectiveness indicators, survey of March 31, 2024:  cooperation rate (CR)* = 0.7463; minimum response rate (MRR)** = 0.0147; response rate (RR)*** = 0.0708.

Calculations are based on the corporate standard: https://profi.wciom.ru/principy_standarty/korporativnyj-standart-po-izmereniyu-rezultativnosti-oprosov-sputnik-vciom/

* CR: the number of complete interviews divided by the sum of: а) complete interviews and b) non-interviews with eligible respondents.

** MRR: the number of complete interviews divided by the sum of: а) complete interviews, b) interrupted interviews after successful screening and c) all the respondents where it is unknown whether they meet the selected criteria or not.

** RR is calculated in the same way as MRR, with the only difference that the number of respondents with unknown eligibility decreases proportional to the percentage of eligible cases in the total number of respondents with identified eligibility or non-eligibility.

* Before 2017, surveys were conducted through household face-to-face interviews (“Express” project); stratified multi-stage quota-based sample; quotas based on socio-demographic parameters, representative of the Russian population aged 18+ by settlement type, sex, gender, education and federal district. Sample size: 1,600 respondents.

** In 2014, 2015 and 2017 the following answers options were proposed: “Likely satisfied” and “Likely dissatisfied”.

* Before 2017, surveys were conducted through household face-to-face interviews (“Express” project); stratified multi-stage quota-based sample; quotas based on socio-demographic parameters, representative of the Russian population aged 18+ by settlement type, sex, gender, education and federal district. Sample size: 1,600 respondents.