By Robert O'Neill, The Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) — Workers are growing more unhappy with their jobs in many parts of the country, and nowhere more so than New England. A survey of 5,000 people found that while most Americans continue to find their jobs interesting and are even satisfied with their commutes, a bare majority like their jobs.

Only 51% were satisfied with their jobs, compared with 59% in 1995, the survey revealed. The group found a similar level of job dissatisfaction in a 2000 study.

The mail survey was conducted in March by New York-based Conference Board, which did not provide a margin of error.

Only about one worker in five was satisfied with their companies' promotion policy and bonus plans, while nearly two in five were content with their wages.

Percentage of people satisfied with jobs, by U.S. region: 1995 2002 New England (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont) 65% 44% Middle Atlantic (New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania) 53% 50% East North Central (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin) 59% 51% West North Central (Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas) 61% 45% South Atlantic (Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida) 58% 49% East South Central (Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi) 58% 46% West South Central (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas) 60% 51% Mountain (Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada) 63% 57% Pacific (Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, Hawaii) 59% 56% Source: The Conference Board Christian Klein, 33, a Boston-based architect, said increased work satisfaction came with greater independence as he started his own business.

"I'd been working for another individual for a long time and really being able to control more of the project, more of the direction the firm takes is a lot more interesting, a lot more rewarding," he said.

"It has much more to do with the firm and the position I'm in with the firm rather than any particular economic climate."

Job satisfaction was lowest in New England at only 44%, compared to 56% in 2000 and 65% in 1995.

The northern Midwest, Prairie and south central states — Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi — also dropped to below 50%.

"I'm personally happier but I observe more people that are more miserable," said Marc Greenbaum, 50, of Newton, a professor at Suffolk Law School walking in downtown Boston during his lunch break. "There's more pressure on them to produce, more problems with maintaining a boundary between work and family, even maintaining a boundary between work and the outside because of things like e-mail, voicemail and the Blackberry. They can't get away."

Workers in the Rocky Mountain states were the most satisfied, although they, too, had dropped from 63% to 57% in the past seven years.

Lauren Trout, 23, a bicycle messenger in Denver, said she could always do with a higher salary.

"But otherwise, as far as the work goes, I like it. I'm pretty happy with it," she said. "Everybody's pretty cool in Denver, so I like it."

Job satisfaction increased with income levels, but even among the higher-earning households, it had dropped from 67% in 1995 to 55% in 2002, holding steady since 2000.

Less than 48% of people aged 35 to 44 were satisfied with their work, compared with nearly 61% in 1995. The most satisfied age groups were those under 25 and over 65.

George Walker, 66, who lives and works in Denver, said he was happy with his salary but wished some things at work could change.

"I'd like to be more active. I'd like to have more say. I'd like to feel like I had more power. I'd like to feel like I was more in control."

-- Anonymous, August 26, 2002

Answers

I think it is much harder to "like" your job during a recession.

hmmm, that came out wrong somehow.

I "like" having a job in a recession, but I think the economic slowdowns make more jobs a drag than they used to be.

-- Anonymous, August 26, 2002

I could do without the mindless management trying to pin all the problems on the workers. If management was scaled down [a lot] costs would drop considerably.

Also, if managment was composed of people who had intelligence and who could actually do the jobs, the rest of us would be happier. We are so sick of the petty crap they dump on us.

They just implemented a new call in procedure. Now, if one calls in sick, they ask what is wrong with you, and they don't take NOYB as an answer.

-- Anonymous, August 27, 2002