Employees feel bored after working the same job for this long

Nearly half of employed Americans are bored most of the workweek (46%), according to new research.

A survey of 2,000 employed U.S. adults found that 46% are bored at work for at least three days in the workweek.

Ninety percent of those who have a college degree and feel bored at work said they never thought they’d feel this way when attending school.

However, people don’t know that others share these feelings, as 70% believe that people are generally happy with their job.

While a majority of respondents are happy with their current role (71%), one in eight admit to feeling unsatisfied.

Conducted by OnePoll for CSU Global, the survey found that feelings of dissatisfaction typically come within two years of working the same role (46%).

In fact, 71% of those who have been in their role for longer than two years said that their job feels too routine because they’ve been doing the same thing for such a long time.

The survey also found that being happy with your job is directly connected to having a happy life. Three in four respondents believe an important key to happiness is having a job you actually like (74%).

Many set professional goals to keep themselves motivated. Making more money is the top goal (54%), but striving to move up within the company (53%) and helping create something new (50%) also scored high.

The survey also asked what respondents liked about their current job and found that appreciating their work location (64%), their company’s overall mission (50%) and their company culture (49%) were the top three aspects they enjoyed about their current role.

Just 35% said they enjoy the work, itself, which is a hurdle for the 59% who think that people need to love their job in order to be successful in their role.

More respondents said their workplace tends to feel dated (44%) than modern (36%), hinting that it may be time for change.

“As leaders, we know both from research data and from our own direct experience, that investment in employee development can provide positive returns in employee engagement and their ability to contribute,” said Dr. Becky Takeda-Tinker, president at CSU Global. “With the increasingly fast pace of work and change continuing to challenge employers of all industries, pathways of development that employees are seeking can be valuable tools towards ongoing organizational success.” 

While a little over half of employed Americans see themselves working at their current company within the next year (54%), nearly a fifth of those respondents don’t think they’ll be there in five years (17%).

The power lies in the hands of employers, as 76% said it’s important for companies to invest in their employees.

A third of respondents currently think that their own employer doesn’t invest in them enough.

While those who have worked at their company for over 10 years have averaged three promotions in their time there, results showed that this may not be enough.

Those surveyed shared that they would feel more motivated if they had the opportunity to create a new process or project at work (48%) or if they had tuition coverage to earn a degree (28%).

More than half of respondents believe that if they had a degree or an additional degree, their chances for a promotion would increase (53%).

And a majority would be interested in returning to school to help move up within their current workspace or apply to a better job (73%).

“Continuing education through new degrees, certificates or industry certifications help provide new professional opportunities for individuals within and outside of their organizations, while also facilitating organizational and industry evolution,” said Dr. Takeda-Tinker. “For working adults, fully online industry-aligned programs can provide the flexibility and skills needed to advance individual ability and careers, while also accommodating busy schedules.”

Survey methodology:

This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 employed Americans was commissioned by CSU Global between July 28 and July 30, 2023. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).