Does job satisfaction vary with sexual orientation?

Objective.  Few researchers have explored how job satisfaction of sexual minorities compares to that of heterosexuals.  Given earlier findings that job satisfaction is linked to employee health and organizational outcomes, it is important to understand whether job satisfaction levels of sexual minorities do in fact differ from those of heterosexuals.

Data/Methods.  This study uses the 2007-2008 Cycle 4.1 data of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), which includes information on self-identified sexual orientation.    In Cycle 4.1, the provinces of Quebec and Alberta also chose to include a question on job satisfaction.  Descriptive statistics were examined and generalized ordered probit was performed to explore differences in job satisfaction by sexual orientation, when other characteristics were held constant.

Results.  According to descriptive statistics, the percentages of respondents who stated that they were very satisfied with their jobs were smaller, although not significantly so at the 10% level, for gay men and lesbians than for their heterosexual counterparts.  However, in probit regression analysis, when other variables were taken into consideration, the results indicating that gay men and lesbians tended to be less satisfied with their jobs were statistically significant. 

In contrast to the findings for gay men and lesbians, the percentages of bisexual men and women who were very satisfied with their jobs were significantly larger than the corresponding percentages for heterosexuals.  The probit regression results showed that among married women, bisexuals were more likely than heterosexual women to be very satisfied with their jobs.  Among Alberta respondents, bisexual men were more likely than heterosexual men to be very satisfied.  The findings of greater job satisfaction among bisexuals may indicate that many bisexual men and women find jobs in physically and emotionally safe environments and, placing great importance on those aspects, achieve a high level of job satisfaction.

Discussion.  The lower job satisfaction of gay men and lesbians may be the consequence of discrimination.  If so, the positive outcomes associated with increased job satisfaction imply that there may be substantial gains to both the individual and the organization from the elimination or diminution of this discrimination.

The results of this study are based on relatively small numbers of bisexuals and further research is needed to corroborate the findings.  Whether the finding of greater job satisfaction among bisexuals is a statistical anomaly or a more widespread occurrence will be unknown until more data are collected and further research is performed.