A recent survey done by Salary.com that measured rates of job satisfaction throughout the nation suggests Illinois workers are not happy.

The results ranked Illinois the 42nd state in job satisfaction and retention, with 68 percent of workers unhappy with their current employment.

The reasons behind job satisfaction, or lack thereof, stems from many different factors.

Terrence Bishop, a business professor at NIU, recognizes these different causes.

“Some of the most common causes are bad relations with the boss, lack of job security, lack of appreciation, insufficient pay and lack of career progression,” he said.

Chris Elsner, a junior English major, quit a few jobs because of the dissatisfaction caused by some of these reasons.

“My boss was a racist and bigot and cussed all the employees out at one job,” he said. “I didn’t keep working at Walgreen’s because a clerical error prevented me from getting the benefits I should have had.”

Dissatisfaction such as this lies behind many job turnovers. These factors in reverse can also be the reason behind job contentment.

Bishop commented on the reasons behind the specific dissatisfaction level of the state.

“In Illinois, our stagnant economy and the number of layoffs may be playing a role in the relative satisfaction of the state’s employees,” he said. “The economy has not allowed employers to increase pay rates, and the frequency with which firms have announced significant layoffs have probably affected workers’ attitudes.”

Kara Fahringer, a freshman pre-physical therapy major, loves her job in Schaumburg.

“I have fun at work. It isn’t strict about rules, and I have really cool managers,” she said.

While a boss can make or break a job experience, so can the atmosphere.

Lisa Petersen, a sophomore health administration major, enjoys her job as an event cleaner at the Convocation Center here on campus.

“I like working because of the people I work with,” she said. “The pay is also really good compared to other jobs on campus.”

With Illinois ranking so low on the satisfaction survey, the surrounding area also plays a role in employment approval.

Fahringer recognized a key reason behind college students’ job dissatisfaction.

“Right now, we just have ‘college jobs,'” Fahringer said. “They aren’t our careers, it’s just a way to make money, so most of the time people don’t really like what they’re doing.”