People on the Isle of Wight are less happy than they were a year ago, according to a new survey from the Office for National Statistics. However, it also found they are happier than the national average!
The annual ONS survey, which covers the 12 months to the end of March, asked people aged 16 and over across the UK to rate four areas of their personal well-being.
Three of the areas – their happiness, life satisfaction and sense of the things they do in life being worthwhile – are ranked on a scale from zero to ten with ten being the highest.
Isle of Wight happiness levels
The average happiness score for respondents on the Isle of Wight was 7.63, above the national average of 7.52.
Overall, 77% of people surveyed on the Isle of Wight ranked their happiness between seven and ten, meaning either high or very high, compared to 75.4% in the UK.
Since the survey began in 2011-12 happiness in the UK has been increasing year-on-year, but has slowed in very recent years.
Higher levels of happiness
People on the Isle of Wight have also been reporting higher levels of happiness as the years go by.
However, this year’s score was a drop from 2016-17, when happiness was at 7.7.
Top ‘o the morning
Coming out top in the well-being survey this year was Northern Ireland, which reported the lowest levels of anxiety and the highest levels of happiness, satisfaction and feelings of worthiness of any UK region for two years running.
The single happiest place in the UK however was Rushmoor in Hampshire, with a score of 8.35.
Most unhappy
The worst performing region across the board was London, while people in Wales also report lower than average satisfaction with their lives than the other nations of the UK.
According to ONS research, people’s views about their health, employment, and relationship status are the factors most likely to impact how they rate their personal well-being.
Poor well-being
Bad health was the most significant factor associated with reports of poor well-being, followed by being economically inactive with a long-term illness or disability.
Disability charity Scope said employers’ outdated attitudes and inflexible working practices was keeping disabled people out of work.
James Taylor, head of policy at Scope, said:
“This needs to change. Government and employers need to all become Disability Gamechangers – by challenging negative attitudes and tackling the many barriers disabled people face.”
Employment worries
The ONS report noted that employment worries went beyond just having a job, and also concerned the quality of job security, wages and work-life balance.
It continued:
“We know that well-being does not thrive in circumstances of great inequality.
“Reducing disparities in life expectancy and health, access to skills and education, good jobs and affordable homes should be an important priority for achieving inclusive growth in all areas.”
Looking beyond economic health
Silvia Manclossi, head of the quality of life team at the ONS said:
“An important part of our work is looking beyond the economic health of the country to how its people are faring and inequalities in society.
“Today, for the first time, we have identified how factors such as health, access to services and crime levels may affect how people rate their well-being in different parts of the UK.
“This can help local authorities and other organisations to better understand where services could be targeted to help improve the well-being of people in their area.”
Article shared by Data Reporter as part of OnTheWight’s collaboration with Press Association and Urbs Media
