The Impact of Public Service Motivation on Job Satisfaction in Public Sector Employees: The Mediating Roles of Work Engagement and Organizational Commitment

Abstract

In the public service sector, staff’s motivation is of great significance for the developments of both the service team and the governmental service departments. This research develops a model to study the effects of public service motivation on job satisfaction and further assesses the mediation effects of work engagement and organizational commitment. Five-hundred and fifty employees from Chinese public service sectors were engaged in the questionnaire-based study. The results show that public service motivation plays important roles in work engagement, organizational commitment, and job satisfaction. Furthermore, work engagement and organizational commitment are the factors to mediate public service motivation and job satisfaction. Therefore, our findings suggest that staff in the public sector with enhanced public service motivation generally appear more involved in their work, are more loyal to their organizations, and demonstrate more positive work attitudes to improve productivity.

The Effect of Work-Life Balance, Job Stress and Job Motivation on Job Satisfaction – A Conceptual Framework.

“…Consequently, Taheri et al (2020) suggested that employers should consider a better working environment as it facilitates employee job satisfaction. In addition, a public service motivation theory is discussed by scholars attributable to individuals and organisations that explain public employees' work attitudes, including job satisfaction and organisational commitment (Lu & Chen, 2022). Muafi (2021) confirmed that employees who experience better job satisfaction are likelier to perform better than their dissatisfied counterparts.…”

“…A highly motivated employee can perform better and contribute to increasing productivity and higher performance (Hotchkiss et al, 2015). Similarly, (Lu & Chen, 2022) supported that job satisfaction has increased among employees with higher public service motivation. In other words, work motivation can mean the desire or willingness to make an effort in one's work.…”

“…Public employees' job satisfaction needs serious attention, too, especially women. In addition, public service motivation is paramount in elevating public employees' job satisfaction as they play significant roles in improving public service (Lu & Chen, 2022). Concerning that, the job satisfaction of Malaysian women public employees needs to be addressed in implementing the WFH policy regarding individual factors such as work-life balance, job stress and job motivation, as women are assumed to be the home…”

“…A highly motivated employee will attain high satisfaction and vice versa (Hassan et al, 2020). In addition, public service motivation is paramount in elevating public employees' job satisfaction as they play significant roles in improving public service (Lu & Chen, 2022). Therefore, work motivation is positively related to job satisfaction, which can consequently impact women public employees' job satisfaction.…”

“…Along with building a more equitable workforce, bringing participation in the workforce by women closer to parity would have economic benefits (Koh et al, 2019). The primary duty of the public sector is to support citizens and provide public services and products, which also signifies the importance of public employees (Lu & Chen, 2022). During the pandemic, the government ruled out the workforce to work at home (Pekeliling Perkhidmatan Bilangan 5, 2020).…”