Rethinking job quality: In the context of work-related wellbeing and labour productivity

This study investigates the relationship between worker-reported job quality characteristics and both work-related wellbeing and labour productivity, utilizing data from the European Working Conditions Surveys (EWCS) of 2005 and 2015, and the European Working Conditions Telephone Survey (EWCTS) of 2021. We construct composite Job Quality Scores (JQS) for wellbeing and productivity based on 24 key job quality characteristics, weighted by their correlation with each respective outcome. Our analysis reveals a divergence in trends between 2015 and 2021, with average JQS for work-related wellbeing significantly declining while the JQS for labour productivity increased. By decomposing the changes, we identify specific job quality characteristics, such as increased repetitive hand/arm movements, working at high speed, carrying heavy loads, and working to tight deadlines, as key drivers of this opposing trend. Conversely, increased computer use, reduced physically demanding postures, appropriate reward for effort, and reduced exposure to dangerous chemicals are identified as factors that could simultaneously enhance both productivity and wellbeing. Furthermore, we explore the role of occupational shifts in explaining these changes, finding that the observed increases in key job characteristics listed above are largely occurring within occupations rather than solely due to changes in occupational composition of the workforce. These findings offer valuable insights for managers seeking to balance economic performance with worker wellbeing, highlighting specific areas for intervention to foster a more harmonious and productive work environment.