Houston — November 17, 2011 — LinkedIn (NYSE:LNKD), the world's largest professional network with more than 135 million members worldwide, today released data about global professionals’ career ambitions and satisfaction with their current jobs. The survey results were unveiled during the Texas Conference for Women, the largest women's conference in the state with more than 6,000 attendees. LinkedIn is the conference’s exclusive connection sponsor and LinkedIn’s Connection Director, Nicole Williams, is a speaker at the event.

LinkedIn surveyed more than 12,000 professionals and found that 63 percent of professionals globally said they are “happy” or “very happy” with their current job.

• Professionals in the Netherlands ranked as being the happiest. Eighty percent of professionals in the Netherlands said they were “happy” or “very happy” with their current job.

• Japanese professionals ranked as being the least happy with only 31 percent of professionals in that country stating they were “happy” or “very happy” with their current job.

• Sixty-six percent of professionals in the U.S. said they were “happy” or “very happy” with their current job, putting the U.S. in sixth place.

“A tough economy can make professionals appreciate facets of their job they might otherwise overlook when business is booming,” said Williams. “Perhaps you didn’t get the raise you wanted this year, but you are appreciative of an amazing supportive manager who keeps an eye out for opportunities that will help you grow in your career.”

The study also revealed that most professionals have a hopeful outlook about their future with their current employer. Fifty-two percent of global respondents agreed that if they work hard and demonstrate results, they have a good opportunity to advance in their company.

• Professionals in Brazil ranked as being the most optimistic. Sixty-three percent of professionals in Brazil said that if they work hard and demonstrate results, they have a good opportunity to advance in their company.

• Spanish professionals ranked as being the least optimistic with only 44 percent of professionals in that country agreeing that if they work hard and demonstrate results, they have a good opportunity to advance in their company.

• The U.S. came in seventh place. Fifty-two percent of professionals in the U.S. said they believe that if they work hard and demonstrate results, they have a good opportunity to advance in their company.

The survey also listed out seven different career ambitions and asked professionals to select which ones applied to them. (Respondents could select more than one option.) The No. 1 career ambition for professionals globally is getting promoted. In the U.S. the top three career ambitions professionals selected were:

1. Get promoted
2. I'm happy where I am
3. Retire early
   

Find more information about LinkedIn’s global job happiness research and get tips on demonstrating results and securing a promotion in the new year on LinkedIn’s blog: http://lnkd.in/professional-happiness.

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About LinkedIn
Founded in 2003, LinkedIn connects the world's professionals to make them more productive and successful. With more than 135 million members worldwide, including executives from every Fortune 500 company, LinkedIn is the world's largest professional network on the Internet. The company has a diversified business model with revenue coming from member subscriptions, marketing solutions and hiring solutions. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, LinkedIn also has offices across North America, as well as throughout Europe, Asia and Australia.