A 2025 survey of 1.28 million workers by shift work platform Deputy reveals that Gen Z's pursuit of AI-resistant healthcare careers may come at a cost: doctors, paramedics, and chiropractors are among the UK's unhappiest workers, with nearly 38% of doctors' office staff reporting job dissatisfaction driven by staffing shortages, emotional strain, and unpredictable schedules.
Conversely, hospitality jobs—often dismissed by graduates—rank among the most satisfying, with sit-down restaurant staff reporting 89.7% job satisfaction.
What happened
A 2025 Deputy survey of 1.28 million users found that doctors' offices and medical clinics recorded the highest job dissatisfaction at nearly 38%, followed by chiropractors and critical/emergency services staff. Four of the five unhappiest job sectors in the UK are in healthcare.
Why it matters
Gen Z may view healthcare careers as secure against AI displacement, but the research reveals a trade-off: these roles often come with staffing shortages, emotional strain, unpredictable schedules, and high stakes that burn workers out. Job security does not guarantee job satisfaction.
What to watch
Hospitality roles—sit-down restaurants (89.7% satisfaction), fast food and cashier workers (82.9%), cafés (82%)—report among the highest job satisfaction scores despite low pay and unsociable hours. Wage growth for bartenders and baristas is outpacing that of desk workers.
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The article presents a counterintuitive finding: while Gen Z may chase healthcare careers for perceived AI-resistance, the data suggests these roles carry hidden costs in worker satisfaction. Deputy's survey of 1.28 million users—one of the largest of its kind—establishes that healthcare dominates the dissatisfaction rankings, with four of the five unhappiest sectors in the UK located in this field. The report identifies specific structural pressures: staffing shortages, emotional strain, unpredictable rosters, and an aging population create a compounding effect that undermines the intrinsic rewards healthcare work might otherwise provide.
More striking is the inverse finding: hospitality roles—typically undervalued by graduates and marked by low pay and unsociable hours—emerge as the most satisfying. The research suggests that what drives satisfaction is not pay or prestige, but rather clearer routines, manageable workloads, and strong team camaraderie. This reframes the conventional career hierarchy: a barista's predictable shift may deliver more daily satisfaction than a doctor's high-stakes, understaffed clinic. The article notes that wage growth for bartenders and baristas is outpacing desk workers, suggesting that the financial gap may be narrowing even as satisfaction diverges sharply from job security.
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