Older employees 'happier in their work'

Older workers tend to be more fulfilled in their job, while those in their early thirties are most likely to be dissatisfied, according to a new report.

The survey by communications firm Vodafone asked 3,842 people aged between 14 and 66 about their expectations and experience of work.

It found that 31 to 35-year-olds were most likely to feel "dissatisfied" (44%) and "trapped" (39%) in their role, during the period when home life with young children was often at its most demanding.

These tendencies were found to decline in progressively older groups of workers, with a marked drop-off after the age of 65.

Mark Bond, Vodafone UK's director of enterprise, said that a lot of recent effort had gone into understanding the needs of those at the beginning and end of their working lives.

"This report demonstrates clearly that more should also be done to empathise with and understand those in the middle of careers – not only for their own sake, but for the benefit of the companies that they work for. These people are, after all, the leaders of tomorrow."