Population and Zone happiness - how do I get a persistent upwards trend?

[zgrssd]

I am having some issues gaming/working with Population and Worker happiness. I just keep spiraling down and down, with no end in sight.

Originally I sought to influence it via Quality of Life, but I just realized that will not work:
- For population, the change is based on difference between QoL and Civilisation Score. But Civilisation score will follow QoL.
- For workers there is a similar effet. QoL vs Regime Civilisation score is what defines the impact. Unfortunately tht means workers in highly developed regions will be very happy, but those in new regions will be extra unhappy.

All focussing on QoL does, is drag my civilisation level up, wich has some side effects (like no more Militia) and means it never lasts.

For workers the only working thing seems to be "+1 per difference in payment level between Pirave and Public", but with some rounding error. Unfortunately, I am never able to keep up increasing the payment.


So:
What can improove Population and Worker happiness in a lasting way?
How do I game the mechanics that is based on?
What is the stable level I can aim for?

[zgrssd]

Okay, another uncertainty found:
+2 "Luxury Products and Services"

I had asumed that was QoL being higher then civilisation score. But I got QoL and City Civilisation level both at 4.

So I got a bonus I really need to understand - and no idea where it is comming from!

[GodwinW]

One thing is to not upgrade your cities to level 4 and beyond too quickly. Because that actually hurts QoL.

From the manual:

The maximum QOL Score is the QOL Points / City Level.

[zgrssd]

ORIGINAL: GodwinW

One thing is to not upgrade your cities to level 4 and beyond too quickly. Because that actually hurts QoL.

From the manual:

The maximum QOL Score is the QOL Points / City Level.

As Civilisation level always tries to QoL, that does not really change a thing long term. If Civ Level and QoL are missmatched you got a +/- 1 or 2 for a few turns - then it caught up. It is short increase over several turns, not a change of the general trend. And a increase you have to pay for with a permanent Civilisation score increases.
And sooner or later you run out of QoL buildings to upgrade.

"+2 Happiness due to Luxury Goods and Services". That is the one bonus I see, that would fix the issue for me. But I have no idea what is causing it.
I got it on a level 1 city with 0 Civ, 0 QoL and nothing but a Private Domefarm 2 (heavily damaged and not enough people to run it) and unfinished public Truck station.
And on a Level 3 with Civ/QoL of 4 and too many public and private assets to count.