We Are HAPPY!

September 16, 2009, 4:38 pm — Updated: 6:35 pm -->
The Self-Employed Are the Happiest
By Catherine Rampell
Peyri Leigh
Business owners are the happiest workers in America, according to Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index poll data collected from January to August. Transportation and manufacturing workers have the lowest overall well-being.
Definitions for each of the job categories can be found here.
Some other observations:
The three occupations with the highest levels of well-being are those with the highest household income.
Self-employed workers also work the most hours per week.
Farm workers, fishers and forestry workers exhibit the healthiest habits — good diet, frequent exercise and low smoking rates.
Construction workers and managers/executives score the best on overall health, as determined by measures of chronic illnesses.
Now the question is: How happy are transportation and manufacturing workers in Hawaii?
Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company