The lived experience of work fulfilment: A qualitative examination across groups

Work fulfilment is an important aspiration in career theory and practice, but despite extensive quantitative research, the lived experience remains underexamined. Through three qualitative studies, 60 participants were interviewed to explore how work fulfilment is experienced, within and across groups (midlife women, midlife men, and women in their 20s). Thematic analysis identified six themes: work fulfilment is making a positive difference, energising, authentic, connected, freeing, and life enabling, forming the PEACeFuL framework. Findings suggest work fulfilment may be more experientially shared than previously assumed and offer researchers and practitioners a richer description and framework for theory development and career interventions.