While they may not be whistling while they work, a new survey of U.S. workers finds that most Americans are very happy in their jobs, with those who are living in the West, married, and Hispanic showing the highest incidence of workplace contentment.

The SnagAJob.com Labor Happiness Survey found that 61 percent of American workers are very happy in their current positions.

"On-the-job happiness is a telling barometer for the larger employment picture in a number of ways," said Shawn Boyer, president and CEO of SnagAJob.com. "Happy workers are, by and large, more productive, more committed and more likely to seek advancement within their current places of employment. At a time when the economy is giving us mixed signals, this worker happiness survey is an unambiguously positive indicator."

The happiest workers, by demographic sector, are living in the West (67% vs. 64% in the Midwest and 59% in the South and 52% in the Northeast), married (64% vs. 54% for those not married) and Hispanic (67% vs. 61% for whites and 51% for others).

In addition to gauging happiness levels, the survey also provided insights into a range of other worker attitudes toward their jobs. More than half of all hourly workers (56%), for example, consider their job as their full-time career, especially men (62%). As a whole, two in five hourly workers (39%) reported having a household income of $50,000 or more.

"While many Americans take hourly positions as their first jobs or to supplement their income, most hourly workers in the U.S. are unmistakably career oriented," Boyer said. "As this survey makes clear, hourly workers are not the stereotypical low-wage earners but, in fact, have great potential to make an attractive income."

According to the survey, more than half (61%) of the working population consider health insurance their most valuable benefit at work, followed by a retirement savings plan (19%) and paid-time off (11%). Interestingly, health care also was cited as the single most important issue facing the country (21%), with the war in Iraq (20%) and the economy (18%) close behind.

As for workers' outlook toward the future, they indicated overwhelming unease over large future expenses, such as retirement and children's education, with 44 percent of survey respondents ranking it as their primary concern. Health concerns and family, including how they will be cared for, tied for second at 17 percent each.