Happy? Education makes life easier

Life satisfaction in Malta may be considered a given, according to research commissioned by the Faculty for Social Wellbeing: over 79% of Maltese respondents report they are either ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with life in general... and just under 5% think they are not.

The feeling is widespread across various the whole Maltese social fabric. On average, most respondents asked to ranked their life satisfaction from 1 (not satisfied) to 5 (very satisfied), scored an average of 4.14.

Indeed, no noticeable difference in results is apparent between the various social groups.

The lowest averages for example, were seen in those not living with a partner (4.04) or those out of a job (4.04). Similarly, low averages could be seen among pensioners (4.06), those with a primary education (4.09), as well the retired (4.07).

Perhaps the most satisfied of all can be said to be homemakers at an average of 4.38, high-income earners (4.20), married people (4.22), and those living in the northern region of Malta (4.25).

Despite overall life satisfaction, respondents views were nuanced by the different stages and aspects in their lives that brought them contentment.

For example, respondents derived more life satisfaction from their family than their local community or financial situation – a sign that family bonds provided more security to individuals than the quality of life expected from outside the immediate family.

Family life: better when older

In general, almost 95% are satisfied with family life, with women being ‘very satisfied’ (76%) at a higher rate than men (67%).

The highest concentrations of family satisfaction can be found across all ages. But the older one gets, it seems, the more one is ‘very satisfied’ with family life, peaking at middle-age (46-55) with 81%. This rate then tapers off gently after 56, with 78% ‘very satisfied’ with family life; and down to 74.8% for those aged 66 and over. Indeed, in this age bracket, outliers who say they are ‘absolutely not satisfied’ with their family number only 1%.

As expected, respondents who are married were more likely to say they are ‘very satisfied’ with family life (81.2%) as opposed to those not in a relationship. Here, there was a higher degree of respondents who said they were ‘not so satisfied with family life at 11%, compared to 1.3% among the married. But unmarried respondents still registered an overall satisfaction of satisfaction – 88.4% or both ‘very satisfied’ and ‘satisfied’.

But in general, the highest rates of satisfaction were found among those with a secondary education, the self-employed, homemakers and in respondents residing in Gozo – all above 80%.

Clearly, out-of-work respondents were definitely ‘not so satisfied’ with their family life at 25.5%  – a rate that was clearly out of step with other groups and demographics, where similar negative ratings were less than 10%.

Another visible sign of discontent was found in the western region, where 14.8% of respondents said they were ‘not so satisfied with family life.

Social life – more money, more fun?

Again, rates of 86.8% satisfaction for all respondents point to a general approval for their social life, with only 11% saying they were ‘not so satisfied’ – in this last category, women (14.5%) being more pronounced than men (7%).

Across age groups, life satisfaction (‘very’ and ‘satisfied’) climbed to over 80%, while similar levels of dissatisfaction fluctuated between 9-13% among all age groups – again, reflecting overall sentiment. The same pattern was observed among the married and single persons.

Clear rates of satisfaction with one’s social life however emerge in those with high incomes and paying tax of over 35% – 80% said they were ‘satisfied’ with their social life. Unlike lower earners, this group did not register any levels of dissatisfaction with social life. Indeed, the higher rate of those ‘not so satisfied’ with their social life was found among those paying 15% tax (12.5%) or those with the lowest incomes at zero tax (9.5%).

Again, a clear demarcation of satisfaction with social life can be in Gozo: in this case, Gozitan respondents were the least likely to be dissatisfied with their social life, just 2.5% compared to higher rates of dissatisfaction elsewhere.

Money: education matters

A different pattern on life satisfaction emerges where money concerns come in. In general, satisfaction is high across the board (over 67%), but this is nuanced by those who say they are simply ‘satisfied’ at 45% and a good 25% who say they are ‘not so satisfied’ with their financial situation.

While such levels of preoccupation with money find no noticeable differences among genders, the higher rates of dissatisfaction (above 25%) are found among adults aged 26, right up to senior working age. Equally, these groups among the lowest levels of respondents who were ‘very satisfied’ with their financial situation.

Further down the demographic divide, these rates of dissatisfaction were mostly pronounced among those with a post-secondary education (35.9% ‘not so satisfied’) and least among the tertiary educated (19.9%). Conversely, tertiary educated were the most likely to be satisfied with their financial situation (80.1%) and post-secondary respondents the least (58.2%), a sign that educational attainment delivered some form of financial security.

However, the highest rate of financial satisfaction was evident among the self-employed, with 90% overall satisfaction (80% said they were ‘satisfied’), while those mainly ‘not so satisfied’ were the unemployed (34%) and homemakers (34.3%).

Again, those who earn the most naturally registered very high levels of satisfaction with their financial situation: 73% of those paying the highest tax rate said they were ‘very satisfied’ with their financial situation. And while general satisfaction rates were over 60% for most socio-economic groups, it was the group in the 25% tax band that registered the highest rate of dissatisfaction (37% in total), followed closely by the 15% taxpayers (36%).

And clearly, the lowest wages or lack of financial security is prevalent in Gozo: here 43% said they were ‘not so satisfied’ with their financial situation.

Work: study hard for a job you like

Again, high satisfaction rates for work and career across Malta clock in at an overall 80% rate.

Curiously, the level of dissatisfaction (‘not so satisfied’) can be seen growing from 9.4% for the 26-35 age group, steadily across all age groups to 24.5% for those 56-65, before this drops to 0% at pensionable age: perhaps, less work is better?

What is sure is that education is a key to both financial satisfaction but also job satisfaction: radical differences were clearly evident here, with tertiary-educated respondents saying they are ‘very satisfied’ (43.1%) with their jobs, compared to 0% of primary-educated people; the latter even registered the highest level of dissatisfaction with their jobs (60%).

This finding perhaps shows clearly that highly-educated respondents find it easier to access jobs that provide long-term career mobility or higher-salaried and motivational careers, compared to lower-skilled respondents.

A further degree of satisfaction is found among the self-employed, wit 63.8% saying they are ‘very satisfied’ with their job, suggesting how a high level of control on management and finances allows people to influence their career progression.

Job satisfaction is also closely linked to wages and salaries. High earners who paid the highest rate of tax were the ones most likely to say they were ‘very satisfied with their job at 73%.