Do family, health and job perceptions shape workers' well-being? A job satisfaction analysis in Europe

In an evolving European context, the boundaries between professional and personal life are becoming increasingly important in shaping individual subjective well-being. The growing emphasis on Work-Life balance reflects broader societal transformations, including changes in labour market structures, shifting family dynamics, and evolving cultural attitudes toward employment. While previous works have analysed employment conditions for immigrants, few studies have focused on their perception of job satisfaction comparing them with natives. This study analyses perceived job satisfaction among workers using data from the 10th round of the European Social Survey (2020-2022). A series of linear regression models is applied to analyse the satisfaction of workers with low, medium and high skilled jobs among natives, second-generation migrants, and individuals with a migration background. The focus is centred on the effect on work satisfaction of three domains: job characteristics, sociality and household dynamics, and perceived health. Using the Work-Life balance index to divide countries into groups, it was found that states with a low balance experience more pronounced effects, with job skill levels playing a much more significant role in shaping outcomes.