DRAFT UNPUBLISHED DATA for discussion

S8np9d | 01 July 2014 | Glen Crust | glencrust@hotmail.com

SWB and Occupational Choice Reasoning

Since 2011, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) has measured UK adults’ subjective well-being (SWB) using four questions: “On a scale of zero to ten overall

How Satisfied are you with your life nowadays?

To what extent do you feel the things you do in your life are Worthwhile?

How Happy did you feel yesterday?

How Anxious did you feel yesterday?”

Since 2013, the University of Plymouth has measured graduates’ subjective well-being using the ONS SWB questions to supplement the HESA DLHE survey Amongst a range of findings, differences exist between mean subjective well-being (SWB) scores for groups of graduates who identify the main reason for taking their job as “It fitted into my career plan/it was exactly the type of work I wanted” and “In order to earn a living/pay off debts” (DLHE Q14). These two groups lie towards the top and bottom, respectively, of the SWB rankings in the table below. This raises a question: are these SWB scores due to differences in perception or experience? Are the occupations and lifestyles different, or do the two groups interpret similar experiences differently?

SWB as Percentile in Survey Population SOCs 1 to 3 Salary

“Why did you decide to take the job…? …indicate the ONE MAIN reason…” n S W H A SWB n Mean n Mean

It fitted into my career plan/it was exactly the type of work I wanted 647 78th 76th 65th 59th 65th 647 83% 517 £19,536

To see if I would like the type of work it involved 30 70th 75th 69th 62th 61th 30 63% 21 £17,429

It was an opportunity to progress in the organisation 72 77th 62th 59th 60th 58th 72 61% 65 £18,096

The job was well-paid 39 64th 49th 60th 53th 58th 39 51% 32 £19,859

To gain and broaden my experience in order to get the type of job I really want 197 66th 68th 60th 61th 56th 197 54% 119 £15,521

It was in the right location 88 57th 56th 60th 60th 52th 88 53% 59 £16,181

It was the best job offer I received 102 57th 55th 49th 59th 49th 102 54% 70 £17,307

In order to earn a living/pay off debts 591 46th 42th 52th 58th 45th 591 18% 421 £11,915

It was the only job offer I received 68 37th 38th 48th 56th 42th 68 34% 49 £13,263

Features of the Data 1) Graduates who took a job that fitted their career plans have the highest SWB scores and salaries. 83% work in “graduate level” occupations (roles with

Standard Occupation Codes beginning 1, 2 or 3) while graduates who took the job in order to earn a living or pay of debts have lower SWB scores and salaries. Only 18% work in graduate level occupations. The difference in SWB scores seems likely to be associated with experience rather than perception.

2) By comparison with graduates who took a job that fitted their career plans, graduates who took a job because it was well-paid earn on average only £323 more per year, while rating their lives less satisfying, worthwhile, happy and anxious. This data might motivate students to explore the benefits of responding to intrinsic rather than extrinsic values and motivations, and begin conversations around working-to-live and living-to-work in the cash and Core economies.

3) By comparison with graduates who took a job that fitted their career plans, graduates who took a job because it was in the right location have relatively low SWB scores and salaries. Around half work in graduate level jobs. This data may inform graduate transition planning for students who are considering moving back in with parents and seeking work locally, rather than seeking work in the national labour market and then relocating when they receive a job offer.