Cannabis Industry Workers Are Happiest Among All Sectors, Says New National Workforce Report

The 2025 Shift Pulse Report, released by workforce management platform Deputy, analyzed anonymized end-of-shift surveys submitted between April 2024 and April 2025. The report introduced a new metric called the Net Happiness Score to gauge employee morale across sectors and states. Among all industries tracked, those working in marijuana, tobacco, and e-cigarette retail topped the list, with nearly 92% of employees reporting feeling “good” or “amazing” about their jobs. That figure puts the cannabis sector well ahead of other high-performing industries such as catering, cafes and coffee shops, and dental offices. On the opposite end of the spectrum, workers in pharmacies, delivery services, and animal health sectors reported the lowest happiness levels, with nearly 14% of pharmacy workers saying they were unhappy with their jobs.

Deputy’s CEO Silvija Martincevic said the data offers a rare window into the mindset of frontline employees. “What started as a way to hear directly from shift workers has evolved into a trusted source of real-time workforce sentiment data,” she said. “Business leaders now turn to our annual findings to understand not just what’s happening in their own operations, but how they compare to industry benchmarks and regional trends.”

The data also shows a strong connection between scheduling flexibility and employee sentiment. States like Utah, South Carolina, and Virginia—where businesses often provide more predictable and flexible shift options—scored highest for overall morale. Meanwhile, workers in North Dakota, New Mexico, and Vermont reported some of the lowest Net Happiness Scores in the nation.

The report suggests that industries offering more autonomy, job security, and inclusive workplace cultures are seeing the benefits in worker morale and retention—something the marijuana sector appears to be leading the charge on.