Interaction Between Subjective Well-Being, Economic Activity and Education in the EU Cover Image

Interaction Between Subjective Well-Being, Economic Activity and Education in the EU
Interaction Between Subjective Well-Being, Economic Activity and Education in the EU

Author(s): Rasa Zabarauskaitė, Artūras Gataūlinas
Subject(s): Economy
Published by: Vilnius Gediminas Technical University
Keywords: subjective well-being; job satisfaction; education; professional well-being

Summary/Abstract: The article examines the impact of professional well-being of EU citizens on their life satisfaction at both micro and macro levels. The following indicators were selected to describe the professional well-being: involvment in the official employment, level of education, and job satisfaction. The findings of the article suggest that employed respondents evaluated their subjective well-being significantly higher as compared to those not participating in the labour market. Similar findings were drawn when comparing subjective well-being of the respondents in relation to their education. Respondents with higher education reported significantly higher statistically proven subjective well-being than those with lower education. In the article, the interpretation of the findings is based on the conceptual model of subjective well-being of needs as well as on the role of employment and education in satisfaction of physiological and socially acceptable needs of individuals. Work activity is more directly linked with the satisfaction of individual needs than education. However, engagement in work has only an impact on subjective well-being if work activity is perceived as job satisfaction. If employment is perceived by individuals as providing greater satisfaction, it tends to make a more positive impact on the subjective well-being of individuals compared to activities that are perceived as providing less satisfaction.

  • Issue Year: 15/2014
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 285-293
  • Page Count: 8
  • Language: English