Factors that induce satisfaction and dissatisfaction among workers in the creative industry

: a paradox under study

Abstract

This study examines factors that induce satisfaction and dissatisfaction among workers in the creative field, pursuing the overarching goal of providing resolution methods to leverage company success through more satisfied workers. Adopting a qualitative approach, I conducted a comparative case study on six German companies, interviewing 15 workers, five managers, and two CEOs from design, architecture, and film. The paradox presented by literature says that the creative industry is fraught with low job quality, insecurity, many overtime hours, and low earnings; workers do their jobs with pleasure and cannot imagine working in any other field. My findings support the paradox partly. Workers in design are satisfied with their salary, social security, and workload but mentioned concerns about future job security in the age of Artificial Intelligence gaining more relevance. For architecture, findings reveal that although the industry is fraught with low earnings and plenty of overtime, workers are willing to sacrifice that to do what they love. Lastly, although the film industry is fraught with plenty of overtime, a rough work environment, and job insecurity due to seasonal work, film workers consciously decide to join the industry as they have a passion for it.

Date of Award	27 Oct 2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Laure Leglise (Supervisor)