TOKYO -- Those working in finance departments, such as funding and budget management, have the highest job satisfaction among companies' workers in Japan, a survey by job change service Doda has revealed. What makes careers in these departments, which often go unnoticed compared to marketing or management, so fulfilling?

Doda is run by Tokyo-based Persol Career Co. The online survey collected responses from 15,000 regular employees in their 20s to 50s on satisfaction for things such as job components, salary and benefits, working hours and work environment, with items rated out of 100 points.

At the top of the satisfaction heap were financial departments, with an average overall rating of 70.6 points. While the field has the image of a low-profile job that supports the company's business activities, those in it cited advantages such as "no complaints about the salary, being able to leave work at a set time and having a good relationship with co-workers" and "I can engage in the tasks I want to do while maintaining a good work-life balance." The quality of work environments and completeness of tasks stood out.

Those working in basic research, advanced or underlying technology development and related departments came in second place, close behind at an average of 70.4 points. These are departments which take on research and development of potential future products, and were highly appraised in terms of job content, pay, benefits and other factors.

In third place at an even 70 points were those working in the specialist medical departments of "scientific and medical science liaisons," while workers in legal, IP and patent departments were in fourth place at 69.5 points.

The average satisfaction score across all respondents was 60.3, up by 0.5 points from the previous year's survey. By specific item, satisfaction with pay and benefits was up by 0.6 points, likely due to the advances made in the spring wage negotiations by Japan's labor unions.

However, satisfaction dropped by between 0.6 and 0.7 points for working hours and working environment. It is possible the new restrictions imposed this spring on overtime in certain industries has had an effect, increasing the per-hour workload.

Doda lead editor Takafumi Sakurai pointed out, "Those who gave a high satisfaction score tend to be satisfied with more flexible work styles such as remote work, working hours, and relationships at work."

(Japanese original by Yuko Shimada, Business News Department)