Job Satisfaction of UK Academics

Abstract

The topic of job satisfaction is of importance, not only because of its intrinsic humanitarian interest, but also because of its implications for a variety of job-related behaviours such as productivity, absenteeism and turnover. This paper attempts to provide a greater understanding of the overall as well as some of the more important specific determinants of the level of job satisfaction of university teachers. Employing a questionnaire survey to collect information, the study found that while academics appeared to be very satisfied with the core tasks of teaching, and, to a lesser extent, research, they were clearly dissatisfied with other aspects of their job including their salaries and promotion prospects.