Gender differences in the association between job characteristics, and work satisfaction and retention

PurposePrevious research shows a positive effect of job satisfaction and retention on both workers’ and organizations’ welfare, it is important to understand whether the characteristics of a job and workers’ perceptions of certain job traits can predict job satisfaction and retention in an organization. This paper explores the effect of 18 job characteristics on the likelihood that a worker is satisfied with his or her job, the chance that he or she looks for an alternative employer in the following year and the number of years employed by the same organization.Design/methodology/approachThe author adds to the current state of the literature on the importance of job characteristics in several ways. First, the author utilizes a list of 18 job characteristics or perceptions, which to the best of our knowledge is one of the most extensive sets of characteristics that has been considered. This allows us to examine lots of aspects of the job, and their connection to the outcomes of interest. Second, the author uses not only basic regression methods but also ordered Logit specifications to obtain more precise estimates of the effect of job characteristics on job satisfaction and workers’ propensity to look for a new job. Third, the author considers the possibility that a combination of job characteristics, rather than a single factor, influences the level of satisfaction with the job and retention, measured by the likelihood that a worker plans to look for an alternative job in the following year and the years at the current job. The author explores the latter through principal component analysis. Fourth, the author explores gender differences in the effect of job characteristics on job satisfaction and retention. Finally, the author discusses the implications of this research to policy decision-making and managerial decisions.FindingsThe author finds that personal development opportunities and job security are positively related to job satisfaction, and negatively related to the likelihood of looking for a new job. Opportunities for personal development have a stronger effect on job satisfaction of men than women. Male workers’ job satisfaction also depends on whether they are given enough time to complete assigned tasks. The perception of security in the current job, having reliable coworkers and receiving sufficient help in a job make it less likely for women to perform a job search. Fringe benefits encourage workers of both genders to stay in an organization longer. Job security also has a positive relationship with the years in a given job for women, but not for men.Originality/valueThe findings have implications for managers and policy decision-makers. For managers, it is important to be aware of the value male and female workers place on different job characteristics, because a number of studies show the importance of job satisfaction on the success of companies (Porter et al. 1977; Mobley et al., 1979; Tett et al. 1993; Posner et al. 1993), and the author shows that job satisfaction depends on different characteristics for men and women. In addition, managers’ awareness of the findings related to the factors that are likely to retain workers in a company is important because of the costs of recruiting new workers, including hiring, training and opportunity costs. For policy considerations, programs that help in matching employers with potential workers are likely to find good fits for both sides of the labor market if they direct women to jobs that provide more security, opportunities for personal development, and help at work. Jobs that offer more time to complete tasks would retain and increase the chance of keeping male workers satisfied with their job.