Everyone knows that today's employers think a great deal about increasing productivity and decreasing payroll expenses, but what are their workers dreaming about?
Would you believe having more fun?
A Harris Interactive poll released Thursday said American workers put fun at the top of the list of rewards they would want from a dream job. Fun dramatically topped money and making a difference in society as the one thing they most wanted from work.
Harris conducted the survey on behalf of Walt Disney Co. and CareerBuilder.com, an employment-advertising Web site. CareerBuilder is owned by Gannett Co., McClatchy Co. and Tribune Co., parent of the Orlando Sentinel.
The survey also found that 84 percent of workers aren't currently in their dream job.
More than 6,000 respondents ranked the qualities they sought most from employment. The results were released Thursday at Walt Disney World during Disney's "Year of a Million Dreams" media event.
As part of the announcement, Disney said it would offer five one-day "dream jobs" in a competition to be held in conjunction with CareerBuilder. The survey found that 57 percent of U.S. workers thought it would be fun to work at a Disney theme park.
Candidates must be at least 18 years old, and willing to submit an online resume by Feb. 20 at careerbuilder.com/disney dreamjobs. The public will select five finalists for each of five dream jobs, and winners will receive a trip to Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif., in June.
The jobs include a Jungle Cruise skipper, a Haunted Mansion butler or maid, an apprentice pirate, a Fantasyland princess-in-waiting or a Disney park parade performer.
"This is an opportunity to have a once-in-a-day dream," Disney Worldwide Operations President Al Weiss said.
Disney spokesman Duncan Wardle said the contest should enhance awareness of employment opportunities at the theme parks.
"What we really wanted to do is to raise awareness of the positions available at Walt Disney World and Disneyland," Wardle said. "We saw this as a fun way to get out there and talk about employment with Disney."
The Harris survey tackled the ideal employment issue from two perspectives: the careers respondents dreamed about as children and those that were most highly ranked among adults. For children, firefighter was at that top of the list, followed by princess and professional dancer. President and cowboy tied for fourth place.
Adults rated firefighting and law-enforcement jobs most highly, followed by teaching, real-estate sales and engineering.
Employment satisfaction varies widely by city. Thirty-seven percent of workers polled in Boston felt they had their dream job. Other cities with high employment contentment included Sacramento, Calif., San Francisco, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, Dallas and Portland.
Workers were least likely to say they had their ideal job in San Diego, Phoenix, Detroit, Atlanta and Miami.
