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Overall federal employee satisfaction has declined slightly since 2010, and satisfaction levels continue to trail behind the private sector, according to the new Best Places to Work in the Federal Government rankings by the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service.

The results showed a governmentwide employee satisfaction score of 64 out of 100 for 2011, representing a 1.5 percent decrease from 2010, but still 5.7 percent higher than 2003 when the rankings were first published. Federal employees' satisfaction levels continue to lag behind the private sector, which had a satisfaction index score of 70 out of 100 this year, a slight drop from 70.6 in 2010, the study found.

The "results show a decline in employee satisfaction compared to 2010, but not as big a drop as one might have expected given the difficult economic and political climate that has led to a federal pay freeze, the possibility of reduced worker benefits, threats of government shutdowns and the certainty of significant agency budget reductions," the report states.

Of the 33 large agencies, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation took the top spot, moving up two slots from 2010. The FDIC unseated the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which ranked second this year after holding the top spot three times in a row, and the Government Accountability Office ranked third. The Smithsonian Institution and NASA rounded out the top five.

Among small agencies, the Surface Transportation Board ranked first for the third survey in a row, and reached the all-time high Best Places to Work employee satisfaction score of 91.1 out of 100.

The National Archives and Records Administration was the lowest-rated large agency for the second straight year, while the departments of Housing and Urban Development and Homeland Security also received low scores. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Federal Election Commission were ranked at the bottom among small agencies.

Meanwhile, the survey found that leadership continues to be the key driver of employee satisfaction, meaning many agencies can turn their scores around by focusing on effective leadership. Other key factors influencing satisfaction were a belief by employees that their skills were well-suited to their agency's mission and a satisfaction with pay.

"The rise in employee satisfaction at some agencies suggests that a determined focus on good management can have a positive impact in the workplace even in tough times," the report states.