Gender differences aside, respondents to our Midlevel Associates Survey came off generally as a remarkably satisfied, happy lot. This year, the average composite score on our survey (based on responses from 5,683 associates at 134 firms) jumped to 4.040, a notable increase from 2011, when the score stood at 3.729. (Associates graded their firms on a 1-to-5 scale in 12 areas, with 5 being the top score.)
Respondents gave their firms the highest composite scores we’ve seen since at least 2004, the earliest year for which a comparable score was available. As for morale, the average score was a respectable 3.462, a slight increase from 3.388 last year, and a pronounced improvement over the dark days of 2009, when the score dropped to 2.666.
