Factors influencing job satisfaction among public sector employees: an empirical exploration

Abstract

Performance problems in public sector organisations in South Africa may be partially attributed to employee-related factors, including low job satisfaction levels. This study set out to examine factors influencing the job satisfaction of employees in a South African public sector organisation. A two-section survey questionnaire was administered to 246 government employees based in the Gauteng province of South Africa. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics of the sample and factor analysis to establish the factors that contributed to the job satisfaction of public sector employees. Reliabilities were measured with the aid of Cronbach’s alpha. Five underlying factors that contributed to job satisfaction, namely working conditions, ability utilisation, teamwork, creativity and autonomy were identified. Among these factors, teamwork emerged as the highest contributor to respondents’ job satisfaction. The findings suggest that to enhance employee job satisfaction levels, managers in public organisations should pay particular attention to each of the five factors identified in this study. This could be a solution to improving employee relations as well as meeting the performance challenges that currently face public organisations in South Africa.