A new study by global firm Right Management found that soldiers were the most engaged among Australian employees. The soldiers were followed by insurance workers and accountants.

The report, which surveyed 5,330 Australian workers and 1,980 New Zealand employees across 10 industry sectors, found the least disengaged workers in the biotechnology; agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing; and retail sectors.

The report found a 50.4 per cent engagement rate among soldiers, while biotechnology workers logged in only 23.9 per cent engagement.

Bridget Beattie, general manager of Right Management, explained the high engagement rate of soldiers to the armed forces' strong leadership at the national level, while she attributed the high engagement rate of accountants and insurance brokers to their type of work.

The report linked high engagement with happiness while at work, which leads to higher productivity and retention levels, and better customer service which help improve the company's financial standing. It also found higher engagement rates among older workers.

Across the different industries covered in the study, the survey found that only 34 per cent of Aussie workers are satisfied with their jobs and employers. Ms Beattie said the growing level of employee discontent is an aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis.

"People are more suspicious of organisations due to restructuring activity over the last few years, especially where that change has not been managed well.... People see that no one is immune from restructuring and retrenchment any more - high performers, senior managers, key people are all being retrenched," AAP quoted Ms Beattie.

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