US/GB: Which industries would the public be proudest to work in?

New data from YouGov Direct allows us to explore which industries the British and American public would be most – and least – proud to work in.

In both markets, the education sector comes out on top. Comfortably over half of people in Great Britain (56%) and approaching half of people in the US (48%) say they’d be proud working for a school, university, or company providing services to the education sector. Companies in the non-profit sector come in second: half of Britons (49%) and more than two in five Americans (44%) say they’d feel personally satisfied working for a charity or similar voluntary organisation. Tech companies come joint-second in Britain (49%) and narrowly third in the States (43%).

Professional services companies such as accountants’ and law firms also command more respect in Britain (45%) than the US (40%), and it’s the same situation with media agencies (37% GB; 33% US). There is parity of esteem for the automotive industry in both countries, where three in ten Britons (29%) and Americans (30%) say they’d be proud to work for a car or car accessories manufacturer, and precisely the same proportion of both groups say they’d happily work in the travel industry (29% GB; 30% US). It’s also close when it comes to the video game industry (28% GB; 26% US), retail (19% GB; 20% US); or leisure and entertainment (21% GB; 20% US).

Americans are more likely to be proud to work in the energy sector (26%) compared to Britons (19%) – a finding that may reflect the current cost of living crisis in the UK. FMCG companies (GB 17% US 21%); telecommunications firms (22% GB; 24% US); marketing agencies (24% GB 27% US) and property companies (22% GB 29% US) also fare better.

Methodology

US:

YouGov polled 2,000 US adults online on 18 February 2022 between 12:04 and 19:34 BST. The survey was carried out through YouGov Direct. Data is weighted by age, gender, education level, political affiliation, and ethnicity. Results are nationally representative of adults in the United States. Learn more about YouGov Direct.

Great Britain:

YouGov polled 2,000 British adults online on 18 February 2022 between 12:07 and 18:30 BST. The survey was carried out through YouGov Direct. Data is weighted by age, gender, education level, region, and social grade. Results are nationally representative of adults in Great Britain. Learn more about YouGov Direct.