The most common Enneagram type: Most to least popular

Every employee, regardless of their role, skills, or experience, has different personality traits and values that dictate how they work and collaborate with others. 

Choosing the best candidate during hiring campaigns can be a struggle if you don’t look beyond hard skills. It’s important to determine how each applicant will perform in the current environment and if they will collaborate effectively with teams and supervisors.

To assist with this, you can use a pre-employment personality test. This helps you learn about applicants’ personalities, assess how they see the world, and if they have the right qualities to thrive in your organization.

The Enneagram test is a well-known personality test. It helps employers gauge a candidate's personality type and is often used before the interview process.

In this article, we’ll list the most to least common Enneagram personality types and what each type indicates about a candidate so you can hire the best-suited individual for your company.

What is the most common Enneagram type?

Many experts believe that the nine Enneagram types are evenly distributed across the global population. However, surveys of test-takers have shown that some types are more popular than others.

An extensive Enneagram population distribution study was conducted by enneagram-personality.com to ascertain the most and least common Enneagram types. 

Let’s dissect the results starting from the most popular, and see what it means for your hiring campaign.

1. Type 9 – The Agreeable/Peacemaker

More than 16% of the 189,957 results assessed in the study were Type Nine. These personalities are agreeable employees who consider everyone’s point of view. They value harmony and aim to avoid conflicts. 

Key traits:

• Non-judgmental and accepting

• Good listeners

• Strong collaboration skills

• Interpersonal skills

Nines will thrive in stable jobs where they are valued. They want to drive positive change, mediate conflicts, and support others. 

Examples of ideal professional fields for Nines are counseling, teaching, and healthcare.

However, they can struggle with creating structure, become too complacent, and ignore personal needs to avoid conflict.

Learn more about the Enneagram Type 9.

2. Type 6 – The Devoted/Loyalist

Closely behind Type Nines in popularity is Type Six. Devoted types are driven by security. 

Key traits:

• Committed, practical workers 

• Prepared for any situation

• Rule-abiding

Sixes need consistent work environments where they can feel secure about the future. Examples of compatible roles for Sixes include managerial positions at established companies, or that of dentist, paralegal, or banker.

Type Six workers can become demotivated if their peers or bosses ignore them or are unreliable. They also might focus too much on worst-case scenarios.

Learn more about the Enneagram Type 6.

3. Type 4 – The Contemplator/Individualist

The main goal of Type Four is to be unique. Type Fours value creativity and authenticity and want their work to be meaningful. 

Key traits:

• Self-introspective

• Innovative

• Empathetic

• Strive to make an impact

In some cases, Type Fours can be moody and self-absorbed. They tend to do well in entertainment, journalism, photography, design, and other related fields. 

Learn more about the Enneagram Type 4.

4. Type 7 – The Cheerleader/Enthusiast

Driven by excitement and relentless curiosity, Type Sevens are optimistic idealists that are spontaneous and fun-loving. They are great to be around and are always full of ideas.

Key traits: 

• Imaginative 

• Can intrigue and inspire peers

• Great team player

Sevens work best in fast-paced roles where every day brings something different. This could involve jobs like that of pilot, tour guide, content creator, chef, trainer, or artist.

On the downside, Type Sevens can struggle to focus on one task at a time and might repress or ignore problems.

Learn more about the Enneagram Type 7.

5. Type 3 – The Go-getter/Achiever

Type Three personalities are mainly focused on success and admiration. 

Key traits:

• Highly driven 

• Cherish personal achievements

• Adaptable

• Productive

Threes can work well in a range of roles, some more extrovert-oriented (like advertising and event planning), and others more introvert-oriented (like business, politics, and law).

They are image-conscious, friendly, and often have packed schedules. However, they crave recognition and reassurance, so they can sometimes value their professional accomplishments over their sense of self or personal needs.

Learn more about the Enneagram Type 3.

6. Type 1 – The Improver/Perfectionist

Type One employees have high standards and want to do everything perfectly. 

Key traits: 

• Dedicated

• Rule-follower

• Attention to detail

• Advisor

Type Ones do well in detail-oriented roles where communication is straightforward and expectations are clear. Example roles include that of accountant, editor, surgeon, architect, and real estate agent.

Since they are always focused on improving, they can sometimes become overly critical of themselves or their coworkers.

Learn more about the Enneagram Type 1.

7. Type 2 – The Giver/Helper

Type Twos are empathetic and always willing to lend a hand. They want to be liked and are incredibly giving. 

Key traits: 

• Helpful

• Selfless

• Build and nurture relationships

Twos want to bring joy to others and would enjoy working in the non-profit, medical, and hospitality industries. Since they put others first, they tend to ignore their own needs and might not set boundaries. 

Learn more about the Enneagram Type 2.

8. Type 8 – The Master/Challenger

Type Eights are assertive leaders who like to take control and make decisions. 

Key traits: 

• Great leadership skills

• Tackle challenges efficiently

• Charismatic

Eights work best in leadership roles, as executives or in senior management, for example, or roles involving a lot of independence, such as a journalist or an event planner.

However, when things don’t go their way, Eights can be controlling, confrontational, or intimidating.

Learn more about the Enneagram Type 8.

9. Type 5 – The Pioneer/Investigator

Only 4.8% of the results were Type Five, making it the rarest Enneagram type. Fives are innovators that always want to learn.

Key traits:

• Endless curiosity

• Knowledge and expertise-focused

• Analytical, perceptive, and self-reliant

• Value privacy and time alone

Ideal roles for Fives include that of analyst, engineer, freelancer, researcher, scientist, and web developer.

Fives are reclusive and will get demotivated around too many people. They tend to be detached from their emotions, focusing on growing their knowledge and expertise instead.

Learn more about the Enneagram Type 5.

Can someone’s Enneagram change over time?

When using the Enneagram test for hiring, recruiters may wonder if a person’s Enneagram type will change over time.

According to the Enneagram framework, a person’s Enneagram type will not change. It’s a permanent part of your personality that is formed at an early age based on your upbringing and socialization. 

While behavior may vary in different situations, a person’s core motivations will likely remain the same.

Is the Enneagram test accurate?

While a personality test can’t be 100% accurate, the Enneagram test has been backed by many experts to be a useful guide during the hiring process.

However, the Enneagram test should not be used to make final decisions during hiring. It provides subjective indicators of a candidate’s personality and can assist hiring managers when crafting interview questions.

The test should be used as one of many methods to gain general insights into your candidate’s personality, motivation, and working methods.

Why use Enneagram tests in hiring campaigns

TestGorilla’s Enneagram test helps hiring teams quickly gain an understanding of a candidate’s personality traits. The test was developed by subject-matter experts and has passed a 28-step quality-control process before publication. 

The 10-minute test, which candidates can complete on any device, outlines an applicant’s worldview and core beliefs, which indicate how they might react to different scenarios at work. 

Results are automatically generated and displayed on an intuitive dashboard that streamlines collaboration and speeds up decision-making. The Enneagram test can be combined with 300-plus skills and personality tests to find the right candidate.

The test results enable hiring managers to place candidates in teams and roles where they fit best. It can also help supervisors guide new employees toward success in your organization. By interpreting an individual’s personality type, you can identify their strengths and learn how to help them grow.

Combine the Enneagram test with skills testing

Understanding a candidate’s personality type is vital in making effective hiring decisions that lead organizations to success. Choosing candidates with Enneagram types that are compatible with team members and managers can create a productive and cohesive work culture.

Type Nine is the most common Enneagram type, while Type Five is the least. All nine types have their strengths and weaknesses, which can make them more or less suitable for specific job roles.

Hiring managers can use TestGorilla’s in-depth Enneagram test combined with other job-specific skills tests to find the best candidate for any position. 

Sign up for TestGorilla’s Free plan today or watch a product tour to see how our platform can streamline your organization’s hiring processes.