Fiverr Survey Reveals Creative Workers Are Unhappy

Fiverr company Working Not Working (WNW) recently released the results of its (Un)Happiness Survey. The survey gathered data on how the creative workforce feels in the current job climate.

The survey highlighted a general discontent within the creative workforce, with more than half of people (56%) holding full-time jobs planning to leave within the year and 40% intending to leave in the next six months.

Areas where employees are most dissatisfied include lack of mentorship, unclear career growth opportunities, lack of internal communication, and insufficient access to learning programs.

The key triggers identified for employee frustration include lack of flexible working hours or location, lack of growth opportunities, and company culture and values. While salary remains important, it was not highlighted in the key areas that impact employee retention.

The results also demonstrate that creative workers are taking up opportunities outside their full-time jobs, with 65% of those surveyed holding additional freelance roles. More than half also claim that “their current employer does not know of their freelance work” and they don’t intend to tell them.

Sent to full-time members of WNW’s Creative Community, the survey received 965 responses. Responses came from employees of all ages (over 18), genders, and locations. The survey asked questions related to “general happiness, company culture, staying power, perceived value, and job perks.”

WNW designed the survey following the COVID crisis and the global trend of employees rethinking their priorities and values when it comes to work.

WNW co-founder and CEO Justin Gignac revealed that the survey was initially named the Happiness Survey but changed once the results came in. “In a time when our humanity and creativity should be doubled down on as a key differentiator, too many businesses that rely on creativity have left their employees feeling like cogs: burned out, underutilized, and underappreciated.”

WNW is a Fiverr company focused on connecting creative talent to business needs, it offers businesses access to people with creative capabilities for freelance, part-time, and full-time work, from beginners to experts in the field.