The UK’s most essential shift workers are also among its most emotionally strained, according to new data* which today released its annual Shift Pulse Report 2025 — one of the largest sentiment studies of the UK’s shift-based workforce.
Based on over 1.2 million anonymous end-of-shift surveys submitted between April 2024 and April 2025 via Deputy’s Shift Pulse tool, the report reveals a nationwide drop in shift worker happiness, and significant stress within healthcare and frontline support roles.
The healthcare sector is under particular pressure. Doctors’ offices and medical clinics recorded the highest dissatisfaction rate in the UK, with 37.84% of workers reporting negative sentiment — nearly five times the national average. Other sectors in the top 10 for unhappiness include:
- Animal Health (17.95%)
- Chiropractors (12.93%)
- Critical & Emergency Services (12.05%)
- Call Centres (12.00%)
- Care Facilities (6.22%)
Staffing shortages, emotional strain, unpredictable rosters, and an ageing population are cited as key contributors to declining morale in the NHS and broader care sector.
Happiness Drops Nationally as Economic Pressure Bites
Across the UK, overall job satisfaction among shift workers fell 3.79 percentage points to 72.21%, down from 76.0% in 2024. The Net Happiness Score now sits at 65.43%, reflecting a nationwide softening of morale.
Despite the challenges, some sectors are bucking the trend. Retail (75.63%), hospitality (75.41%), and services (71.79%) emerged as the happiest major industries in the country, showing clear signs that investment in team culture, predictable scheduling, and operational clarity can deliver measurable improvements.
“This year’s report highlights one of the UK’s most pressing issues: healthcare workers are nearing breaking point. Unless we tackle the root causes of burnout, we risk not only losing frontline talent but the long-term viability of critical community services”, said Emma Seymour, CFO at Deputy.
“At the same time, the report delivers a clear message for business leaders: how your people feel during their shifts directly impacts how your business performs. From productivity and retention to customer experience and profitability — morale matters. Our data shows that when workers feel supported, operations run smoother and businesses thrive. But where burnout and stress go unaddressed, the commercial impact compounds quickly. It’s time we treat emotional wellbeing as a business metric, not just an HR one.”
Cloud Nine: Vape Shops, Cafes, and Childcare Top Happiness Charts
At a sub-sector level, Tobacco & Vape Stores ranked highest for shift worker satisfaction, with 93.42% of workers reporting positive sentiment. Sit-down restaurants (89.73%), fast food (82.88%), florists (82.86%), and food pop-ups (82.45%) rounded out the top five.
Top 10 Happiest Sub-Sectors (by % Happy):
- Tobacco, E-cigarette & Vape Stores – 93.4%
- Sit Down Restaurants – 89.7%
- Fast Food / Cashier Restaurants – 82.9%
- Florists – 82.9%
- Food Pop-Ups – 82.5%
- Cafes / Coffee Shops – 82%
- Dentists – 81.8%
- Childcare / Community Centres – 78.4%
- Catering – 75.3%
- Cleaning Services – 64.3%
These roles may benefit from clearer routines, manageable workloads, and stronger team camaraderie — highlighting the emotional value of operational structure and positive workplace culture.
The UK’s Shift Work Divide: Warwickshire Tops, West Midlands Struggles
Regionally, Warwickshire emerged as the UK’s happiest area for shift workers, with a Net Happiness Score of 88.26% — more than 22 points above the national average. Major urban centres including Manchester (82.58%), Greater London (75.87%), and Edinburgh (75.93%) also ranked well, suggesting structured scheduling and wider job availability may support worker wellbeing in metropolitan areas.
In contrast, West Midlands (7.15%), Ireland (Northern Ireland & The Republic) (26.33%), and Buckinghamshire (25.40%) recorded the lowest Net Happiness Scores, with Unhappy sentiment peaking at 35.71% in the West Midlands.
*Research from Deputy
