Only 6% of Chinese employees said they are "engaged" in their jobs, according to a global Gallup survey released this month. China's numbers equal the numbers out of war-weary Iraq.

 

Workers across all income levels and industries were surveyed by Gallup in China, defined by Gallup to mean they were "psychologically committed to their jobs and likely to be making positive contributions to their organisations".

 

Out of 94 countries polled, only six countries scored lower rates of job engagement than China, including Tunisia, Israel and Syria. Unsurprisingly, 0% of Syrians admitted to being engaged at work.

 

In a related survey, China ranked near the bottom in a poll measuring job satisfaction among 22 Asian countries. Only 49% of Chinese respondents said they were happy in their jobs.

 

Part of the problem, I suspect, is that very few in China have the luxury of pursuing a career that truly interests them.

 

Even university graduates often feel they have no choice but to opt² for positions with the government or state-run enterprises, since those jobs are thought to be stable and recession-proof.

 

That makes those who are happy at work in China a rare find indeed.

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