A new survey by the Conference Board reveals that the proportion of workers who are satisfied with their jobs has dropped significantly over the past five years. Satisfaction has dropped from 59 percent to 51 percent.

The level of dissatisfaction varies among groups.

• Workers ages 45 to 54 have lowest job satisfaction rates across the age spectrum -- 46.5 percent.

• Workers with household income above $50,000 are still the happiest of the lot, but their contentment is down from 66.5 percent in 1995 to 55.1 percent.

• Some 60 percent of those employed in the Rocky Mountains region say they are happy with their work situations -- while the lowest rating of 45.6 percent is found among workers in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

• And less than one-quarter of workers are satisfied with their employer's promotion policies and bonus plans.

But the data show workers are becoming slightly more satisfied in the areas of the job security and their company's pension plans.

Source: Gene Koretz, "Yes, Workers are Grumpier," Business Week, November 13, 2000.