Mediating Role of Job Satisfaction on Turnover Intentions and Job Mismatch Among Millennial Employees
A study of millennial employees in Bengaluru, India
India is competing with its shifting demographic structure. It is both the second most populated and the most youthful nation in the world. Over half of the Indian population is less than 25 years of age, and over 65% is less than 35 years (Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, 2017). The expanse of the young people makes it essential for India to understand the needs, desires, and aspirations of its youth.
For this research, a structured questionnaire was distributed to 247 millennial employees, across several industries and different company sizes. This study provides a clear understanding of how job satisfaction mediates the relationship between turnover intention and job mismatch.
If efficiently employed, India’s young people have an immense potential to add to the wealth of the country. Millennials (Generations Y) are born between 1981 and the late 1990s. National statistics claim that Gen Y is around 34% (at 440 million) of the population. India’s millennial generation is smarter than their predecessors as they prefer elaborate designations and want constant challenges and recognition. The millennials believe that changing jobs would improve their careers and, hence, embrace job-hopping.
Academic experts and human resource (HR) professionals consider that if millennials are satisfied with the work, then they will be more loyal, more opposed to relinquishing their positions, and can undoubtedly affect organizational performance. As per the World Economic Forum survey, Indian youth is dissatisfied with the job market. As many as 49% of the youth perceive jobs available in the market are not to their expectations. The correlation between economic growth and jobs is debilitating, and the main reason for worsening this condition is a mismatch between qualifications, skills, and jobs. In other words, there exists a gap between the skills and qualifications acquired by youth and those that are required by employers. Organizations need to comprehend the characteristics of millennials and improve their job satisfaction levels by institutionalizing innovations in the working environment.
Numerous researchers have indicated that job satisfaction is of paramount significance as it is one’s general attitude towards the job, and therefore considered as a vital priority policy in most organizations.
Several factors influence job satisfaction such as work preparation (education), work hours, salary, work environment, nature of work, leadership behavior, promotion criteria, interpersonal relationship, job competency, welfare measures, personal recognition, and growth.
Job satisfaction affects turnover intentions. As per Currall, job satisfaction has a direct link with absenteeism and intentions to resign. Turnover intention is an act of withdrawal behavior where employees move out of the organization to join another organization. It is either voluntary or involuntary and is a result of work dissatisfaction. According to Wang and Zhang’s study, higher job satisfaction leads to lower staff turnover.
In developed countries, education–job mismatches (specifically over-education) were found to deter job satisfaction levels among employees. It may generate counterproductive work behavior, such as absenteeism and job turnover intentions. According to Kim and Sang’s study, higher job mismatch adversely affects job satisfaction levels.
From the above discussion, we can reason that job mismatch and turnover intentions matter the most for job satisfaction. These three are significant as they impact organizational performance and track employee satisfaction.
The millennials have become the largest cohort in the workforce, and their retention has become challenging for policymakers and organizations. This study is of practical importance as it impacts organizational practices (specifically human resource management practices).
Article Details
Mediating Role of Job Satisfaction on Turnover Intentions and Job Mismatch Among Millennial Employees in Bengaluru
Chandan A. Chavadi, Monika Sirothiya, Vishwanatha M R
First Published April 18, 2021 Research Article
DOI: 10.1177/2278533721994712
Business Perspectives and Research