When it comes to your job, do you ever find yourself feeling like the famous Jimmy Durante song, "Did you ever have the feeling that you wanted to go, and still have the feeling that you wanted to stay?" If so, you are not alone.

A 2007 survey conducted for The Conference Board by TNS shows that the number of Americans who are satisfied with their jobs has declined over the past 20 years, from 61% to 50%. The report examined a representative sample of 5,000 U.S. households. This trend is noted across all income and age groups. More important is that of the 50% who say they are happy, only 14% say they are "very satisfied." The youngest workers, those under age 25, not only have the lowest satisfaction level but the lowest ever recorded in the survey's 20-year history.

Among the reasons Americans cite for their dissatisfaction are work/life imbalance, too much or too little work, uninteresting work, poor communication and performance review processes, pay disparities, and lack of advancement opportunities. Respondents rated "bonus plans and promotion policies as the least satisfactory" features of their employment.

When employee engagement is low, productivity suffers. As the level of dissatisfaction rises so too do health problems, absenteeism, and workplace aggression. So how do you know if it's time to consider moving on?

Here are some key signals that it may be time to consider another job or a different career:

1. Has your boss hinted that you might be more satisfied elsewhere?
2. Does your boss focus more on minor errors than on your major achievements?
3. Have your highest-level responsibilities been assigned to your peers?
4. Do you feel a sense of dread every day before you go to work?
5. Are you no longer being invited to attend important meetings?
6. Does your boss avoid you when you want to discuss important issues?
7. Are your peers getting more perks than you are?
8. Does your boss yell at, harass, or demean you?

If you answered "yes" to any of or a majority of these questions, you may need to take a hard look at how your work situation is affecting you physically, emotionally, and mentally. Complacency, fear, poor self-esteem, and the golden handcuffs (i.e., benefits) may be preventing you from taking needed action. To take positive steps to improve your situation, try consulting resources for career advice (e.g., career coach, HR staff) before making a decision based solely on your responses to these questions.