Here's a snapshot of the past 5 years of the City & Guilds Happiness Index

• Money can't buy happiness. In fact, for the last five years, sky high salaries have rated pretty low on our list of reasons for feeling fulfilled and satisfied in our careers. 
• Having a keen interest in what you do for a living, working in ‘hands-on’ career and feeling ‘appreciated’ at work were the key drivers for workplace contentment year after year. 
• Undertaking practical work, whether cutting hair or fixing a broken boiler, appears to be the best route to job satisfaction.
• Vocational, ‘hands-on’ professions have taken the top three positions of almost every index since 2004.

• In 2006, a career that is ‘vocational’ in an entirely different sense came second in the ranking – almost a quarter of clergy (24 per cent) said they were ‘very happy’ with their jobs.
• This year, the Armed Forces came an equal second with hairdressers recording an average happiness level of 8 out of 10. An astounding 94 per cent of the military said they would recommend their job to friends.

• Hairdressers are undoubtedly the UK’s happiest profession, ranking in the top two positions in every year except 2006, when they were usurped by DJs!  Beauty therapists have also ranked highly, in the top three for the last four years of the survey.
• Both (hairdressers and beauty therapists) attributed their contentment to strong relationships with their colleagues.  Salon professionals also value having an interest in what they do for a living, which 100 per cent of hairdressers believe is important to on-the-job happiness.
• Secretaries, PAs, administrators and others working in the business support sector feel the least appreciated and this trend has been true of the last three years – faring, only marginally better in 2004. 

2008 – Sky-high salaries fail to please UK Workers

‘As UK workers face rising living costs and ever longer working hours, they are sending a surprising message to their employers: the size of payslips do not guarantee happiness and fulfilment at work.’ According to the fifth annual survey, having an interest in what you do for a living is the number one factor for ensuring on-the-job contentment.

2007 – Work terrors haunt one in five British Workers

‘Almost five million Brits admit to a touch of ergophobia (fear of work), with some of the nation’s top earners, lawyers and bankers, dreading the morning alarm clock the most.

It was doom and gloom in 2007, when the Happiness Index revealed that nearly a third of people (32 per cent) claimed that they were not happy at work. However, the report also shows training and development is a key contributor to happiness.

2006 – Because they’re worth it – UK beauty therapists are ‘made up’ about their jobs

‘Making others look and feel good is having a positive effect on beauticians as they top the poll of the happiest workers in the UK.’ In 2006 we looked at the reasons why beauty therapists and hairdressers were topping the charts. Contributing to happiness in the workplace is the ability to meet lots new people (95 per cent) and being made to feel appreciated (90 per cent).

2005 – Hairdressers are cutting it in the league table of happiest jobs

‘Britain’s vocational workers – particularly hairdressers – are far more likely than their white-collar counterparts to go to work with a smile on their face and a spring in their step.’  The 2005 Happiness Index also reveals a new trend for parity of pay between vocational and white-collar workers. Over half (52 per cent) of the latter think they are adequately rewarded financially, compared to the 51 per cent of trades-people who are happy with the wage they receive.

2004 – Happiness is being hands on

‘Forget lawyers, accountants and architects, when it comes to happiness, Britain’s vocational workers are the ones with the biggest smiles on their faces.’ 2004’s index found a fifth of trade professionals (21 per cent) are extremely happy with their job more than double the nine per cent of white collar workers.