Estate agents are the most sociable office-based workers in the UK with only farmers pipping them to the post for after-work drinks and activities, research has revealed.

Sales and letting agents on average meet colleagues outside work 10.4 times a month while farmers meet up 12 times.

The results are from a study carried out by ‘experiences’ company Boundless to find out which factors contribute to individual happiness in professional life.

The other most social professions include electricians (9.6 times a month), builders (7.3) and those who work in advertising (6.8).

Agents should also consider taking their property developer contacts out for a drink. The research shows they is one of the least sociable workers, on a par with tax and lorry drivers for a lack of peer group meet-ups.

Estate agents

The other sectors where workers only rarely meet up for post-work drinks include sports and leisure, teachers and customers service teams.

Boundless also found that plumbers are the happiest at work, advertising workers the least happy and that men are more likely to fraternise socially with colleagues than women.

“Socialising with colleagues outside of work hours allows for workmates to get to know one another and see each other from a new perspective, which can help make work life less tense and more fun,” says Ian Holmes-Lewis, a director of Boundless (left).

“We know from our survey the happiest people are those who make time to socialise with friends and family. The results also showed that almost half of people didn’t feel they made the most of their time outside of work.

“Perhaps it’s time to dedicate extra effort into planning our free time more carefully to ensure we give ourselves the best opportunities for happiness.”