The newspaper looked at nine different surveys conducted to find the occupations that make us happiest, and then did its own survey of these surveys, looking for the professions that appeared most often in the top 10 of each study.

Construction worker appeared three times in the top 10 with a highest rank of second.

Interestingly, with a typical salary of around £27,000, there was no link discovered between a high salary and happiness.

Asked what makes them so happy, Hayley Chilton, a construction worker for Barratt Homes, told the publication: “Working in the fresh air and with a wide range of skilled people. There is never a dull moment in construction, and a lot of satisfaction to be had in creating something from scratch. Handing over the finished product, especially to a first-time buyer, is incredibly rewarding.”

Paul Findlay, who works for Bargate Homes, added: “The best part for me is when you get to hand over a house, knowing that everything is how they want it. It’s quite a buzz.”

He also enjoys seeing the physical results of his labour. “I love the idea that in 20 years’ time I’ll be able to drive around the region looking at homes and saying, ‘I built that’.

“Plus, at the moment, when we’re experiencing a boom, there’s job security and the knowledge that I can provide for my family.”

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