What factors influence our job satisfaction – in other words, what makes us thrive and feel motivated at work? This question has been at the core of research by the Job Satisfaction Knowledge Centre, and their findings form the foundation of GAIS.
In collaboration with Kantar Gallup, the importance of different factors was first tested in 2015 through a representative survey of 2,500 people. Complex data modeling showed that seven key factors together explained 71% of the variation in job satisfaction – regardless of industry, gender, age, education, or location. These results have been confirmed year after year through the recurring Job Satisfaction Index.
The seven factors are: Achievements, leadership, balance, purpose, influence, colleagues and mastery.
While these seven factors don’t explain everything about job satisfaction, they account for a substantial part of it and offer a strong foundation for organizations aiming to improve employee well-being. Each factor is assessed using a series of survey questions that explore different dimensions of the experience. The score for each factor reflects the respondent’s overall satisfaction with that area and is calculated as an average of the responses to the related questions.
The GAIS methodology
The underlying model behind the Job Satisfaction Index uses a method called Structural Equation Modelling , which is a combination of regression and factor analysis.
Kantar Gallup applies this model to analyze the relationship between job satisfaction (the dependent variable) and the seven key factors (independent variables). The goal is to calculate the impact each factor has on job satisfaction. These effect sizes are based on data from groups of at least 150 respondents and are used in GAIS algorithms to provide feedback and insights.
The research model itself , which evaluates the impact of the seven factors through a comprehensive set of questions, is continually refined and updated. Kantar Gallup monitors the quality of the model using both exploratory and confirmatory studies based on data from the Job Satisfaction Index.
