Plumbers are the happiest, it’s official

Plumbers are the happiest professionals in the country according to a survey conducted by Boundless.

It appears that you made the right choice when you decided to become a plumber!

Within the survey, 55 per cent of plumbers said they were ‘very happy’ in life. This put them way ahead in the happiness index because builders were next on 38 per cent.

The survey was commissioned by Boundless, an experiences company with a 94-year heritage.

It aimed to uncover the secrets to happiness by finding out who is happy, both at home and at work, and what makes them feel good about themselves and their lives.

Ian Holmes-Lewis, Director at Boundless, said: “Plumbers are clearly happy people! Perhaps being their own boss plays a part in that, especially as builders and property developers were high on the list as well.

“But it was also interesting to see plumbers ranked highly in our survey for quality of sleep and physical activity.

“On top of that, 64 per cent said they often tried new experiences, which placed them second in that particular table.

“It goes to show that it is not only experiences in the workplace which determine how happy people are in work. Making the most of life outside of work can have a big impact, too.”

Other key results included:

• The most miserable workers were those in advertising – with 42 per cent saying they are unhappy in life.
• By comparison, plumbers are not only happy in life but also in work. Not a single plumber said they were ‘unhappy’ in their job.
• Those who work in customer service were bottom of the work happiness index – 29 per cent said they were unhappy in work. Lawyers came out badly, too, on 28 per cent.
• Property developers, on 57 per cent, and electricians, on 50 per cent, were the happiest in work.
• In the public sector, a fifth of police officers were unhappy in work.
• Those in the public sector are less happy than counterparts in the private sector – with 15 per cent saying they are unhappy at work compared to 13 per cent.

The Boundless Happiness Index
Very happy in life 

1. Plumbers 55 per cent
2. Builders 38 per cent
3. Marketing 36 per cent
4. Taxi and lorry drivers 32 per cent
5. Bankers 32 per cent
6. Doctors 31 per cent

Very happy in work

1. Property developers 57 per cent
2. Electricians 50 per cent
3. Advertising 42 per cent
4. Sport and leisure 40 per cent
5. IT 34 per cent

Unhappy or very unhappy in life

1. Advertising 42 per cent
2. Social worker 22 per cent
3. Police 21 per cent
4. Chef 21 per cent
5. Farming 20 per cent
6. Sports and leisure 20 per cent

Unhappy or very unhappy in work

1. Customer service 32 per cent
2. Lawyer 28 per cent
3. Police 21 per cent
4. Chef 21 per cent
5. Charity worker 20 per cent