Research Reveals the Difference Between Good -- and Great -- Jobs

Gallup has a new report out today of 140 countries, and it's full of interesting information about how and why we work.

Here are some highlights:

• The world's workers want good jobs, but they are tough to find. The U.S. has the highest percentage (13%) where full-time adult employees report they are engaged because of what Gallup calls "great" jobs. The average globally in "good" jobs is 28%, or about 1.4 billion adults. Gallup explains that great jobs are critical because they lead to better productivity, safety, retention and well-being. 
•  Small- and medium-sized companies matter a lot. In more economically developed countries, these employers account for most of the good jobs available. Less developed countries have a few of them and also few large employers. This leads to a "subsistence" living for people that "do little to raise per-person productivity," Gallup reports.
• Creating good jobs isn't enough. Countries cannot stop at creating good jobs and think people will thrive, the report says. These countries also need "to create great jobs that allow individuals to make the most of their time and talents."
• Working women engagement varies. In North America, women are more likely to have great jobs. But worldwide, women are less likely that men to have good jobs. A high percentage of women work in manufacturing and production jobs that men, which reports lower engagement levels.

Such data should be a wake-up call for employers who are working to develop a global footprint around the world. Not only do they need to create a culture than engages workers at home, but they need to make sure that this same focus on engagement reaches workers who might be in Asia or Africa.